Lamine Yamal is under scrutiny in Spain after his boots in the latest national-team match carried the flags of Morocco and Equatorial Guinea, the countries where his parents were born. The 16-year-old forward, who made his first World Cup start for Spain on Sunday and scored his maiden tournament goal in a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, is now drawing attention for reasons far beyond his performance.
The controversy intensified when an old video resurfaced showing Yamal celebrating Morocco’s win over Spain, prompting angry reactions online. Some comments questioned whether he is fit to represent Spain. The issue has been sharpened by the fact that Yamal had previously considered playing for Morocco before choosing Spain.
According to reports, the boots were specially designed for him, and the Spanish national team knew in advance that he would wear symbols of two different countries. Despite the backlash, he is expected to remain in the starting lineup for the rest of the tournament, with Spain relying on him as one of its key players in its push for another title.
Yamal has also said he has faced criticism and, at times, racist abuse from fans. Social media posts mocked him, including a false claim that he was denied entry to the United States because he looked Somali. Reports also say he has been targeted in Barcelona matches, where chants such as, “Go back to Morocco,” have been heard from the stands.
