Historic Hat-Trick and Unforgettable Moment
Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana witnessed their son make history, as did countless others, a reality that requires adjustment but is now permanent. Just before the second half began on Saturday, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick attempted to reach an agreement with Lamine Yamal. The teenager had already scored twice—both goals exceptional, the second nearly unbelievable—giving Barcelona a 2-0 lead against Villarreal. Flick proposed that if the team scored a third goal, Yamal would be substituted; Yamal responded that if he scored the third, they would take him off. Twenty minutes later, both conditions were met simultaneously, an outcome Yamal described as "perfect." The substitution board displayed his number, and 44,256 spectators applauded his exit.
At home, following the match on television and sharing the moment globally, his father also celebrated. Yamal exchanged hand slaps with Roony Bardghji, delegate Carlos Naval, and coach Flick, but his gaze searched the stands for his mother. He settled on the bench briefly, observed Robert Lewandowski add a fourth goal to secure a 4-1 victory, and after the final whistle, retrieved the match ball from Naval to present to her.
“This is yours,”he said, with cameras capturing the exchange.
“I’m going to take it inside and get everyone to sign it, then bring it to you.”Sheila embraced him warmly, kissed her “handsome boy,” and awaited their departure for dinner.
This marked the first occasion Sheila took a match ball home. It had taken time—Saturday was Yamal’s 163rd senior match—but also came swiftly. His hat-trick, the first at 18 years and 230 days, made him the youngest player to score a league hat-trick for Barcelona. Only two players in La Liga history had recorded a hat-trick at a younger age—José Iragorri in 1930 and Pablo Pombo in 1934. Regarding Barcelona’s all-time record, Paulino “netbuster” Alcántara’s first hat-trick at age 15 dates back to 1915 during the Catalan championship.
The Goals and Style of Play
Regardless of perspective, Yamal’s performance was remarkable, characterized by his signature style: smooth, effortless finishes from both feet. The first goal featured an open body, slight lean, and a ball curved into the far corner. The second was extraordinary. After cutting back near the byline to evade Sergi Cardona, Yamal noticed Alberto Moleiro stepping across.
“It’s about being calm: when I’m in the area with the ball, I decide what happens,”he explained later. While many might have sought a penalty, Yamal calmly flicked the ball over Moleiro’s foot, continued his run, and curled the ball into the net, then leaned on the corner flag to absorb the crowd’s reaction.
At Camp Nou, Yamal’s mother covered her mouth in astonishment. A commentator described the goal as a “work of art” as Mounir zoomed in on the television at home.
“I’m watching on telly. Fucking hell, man. Look, here’s the dad you say is never with his son: here I am watching mine,”he said, singing on Instagram as the replay looped.
“I hope the whole world can enjoy him the way I do, 24/7. ‘Lamine Yamal, for good or bad’. Remember that: I invented it. ‘Lamine Yamal, for good or bad.’ Lamine is my son! My son! God bless you, son. Aaaaargh! Number one!”
Yamal was not finished, determined to secure the third goal before resting, honoring the agreement. Pedri, who had played nearly a flawless half as Villarreal threatened a comeback, delivered a pass that few could see or execute. Yamal admitted to mishandling it initially by letting it run instead of controlling it, but this mistake created a one-on-one opportunity.
“And then the finish? Well one had to go in,”he said. One? He scored three. Counting on his fingers—one, two, three—he accepted the rest happily.
Media and Peer Recognition
El Mundo Deportivo’s cover declared “The Lamin3 Show,” while Sport’s headline read “The Lamine Show,” continuing their tradition of similar covers. A Villarreal-supporting columnist noted that Yamal had not even eaten yet, referencing Ramadan. Villarreal midfielder Santi Comesaña remarked,
“He tends to play brilliantly against us, and it’s not just the goals.”Indeed, Yamal leads the league with nine assists and has created the most chances. He has completed nearly twice as many dribbles as any other player in Spain and more than anyone in Europe, evoking comparisons to his idol Neymar despite frequent Messi references. He is Barcelona’s top scorer with 13 league goals and 18 in all competitions. The hat-trick was exceptional and represented a release, or more precisely, an expression of liberation.
Background and Pressure
When Yamal scored against Mallorca on the opening weekend in August, it was a statement of intent. Bearing the No. 10 shirt—worn by legends such as Luis Suárez, Diego Maradona, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Messi—and having signed a six-year contract, expectations were immense. His national team coach described him as “touched by the wand of God,” and he was revered at the altar of football greatness. The pressure was immense, yet Yamal appeared to embrace it. Declaring him destined to be the best in the world at 17 was not only premature but arguably irresponsible. Still, it was difficult to resist, especially as he seemed to invite such attention.
Yamal said he left fear behind in the park in Mataro during childhood and surpassed many others. He reached a European Championship final at 16—before he could legally drink, drive, vote, or smoke. This fact is well-known but worth reflecting on: on the eve of the final, he had to take school exams. His goal made him the youngest scorer at a Euros or World Cup, surpassing Pelé by eight months. He became the youngest ever scorer for Barcelona, sporting red and blue braces. He led Barcelona through a challenging period, with his manager stating that a player like him appears only once every 50 years. After setbacks, he vowed to return stronger. He finished second in the Ballon d’Or, confident the award would come.
Challenges and Public Scrutiny
Yamal exhibited a cheeky glint in his eye.
“For as long I win, they can’t say anything,”he said. However, he did not always win, and criticism followed. Remarkably, he managed the intense scrutiny well despite his youth. His life unfolded in the public eye, akin to a football Truman Show. His relationship with Nicki Nicole was public knowledge; when his father was stabbed, the news was widespread. Initially embraced by Spain as a protected prodigy, the tone shifted as he matured. After joking about Madrid in October, criticism increased. Yet Kylian Mbappé advised,
“Leave him alone, he’s a great player.”
The pressure was relentless for Yamal and those around him. The two youngest Barcelona players to score hat-tricks before him were Bojan Krkić, an unmatched talent, and Giovani dos Santos, a reminder that talent alone does not guarantee success. The future is uncertain on and off the pitch. Johan Vonlanthen, whose record Yamal recently surpassed, is now a Seventh-Day Adventist priest in Colombia. Managing these challenges while performing is demanding.
Recent Matches and Performance
Recent La Liga results included Barcelona’s 4-1 victory over Villarreal, Elche 2-2 Espanyol, Girona 1-2 Celta Vigo, Levante 2-0 Alavés, Mallorca 0-1 Real Sociedad, Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Athletic Club, Real Betis 2-2 Sevilla, Real Oviedo 0-1 Atlético Madrid, and Valencia 1-0 Osasuna.
Personal Struggles and Recovery
Yamal acknowledged the difficulty of recent weeks. He had posted on social media about his “internal abyss,” expressing a desire to fulfill everyone’s expectations. His performance was good by most standards but not by his own high demands. He suffered a sports hernia that complicated the season’s start, an injury that persisted and led to a public dispute between the Federation and Barcelona over his treatment.
“It was that … and a thousand things more,”he said.
“It was a mix of everything; I wasn’t happy on the pitch and I think you could tell. I didn’t feel like smiling on the pitch; I couldn’t find that and I wasn’t happy. I didn’t feel right, didn’t feel good with myself. But for the last week or so I have, and I have that smile back, enjoying football like when you’re a kid. Thing is people want you to score 100 goals at 16 … I would like to as well …”
He paused, then laughed. Three goals at 18 would have to suffice for Lamine Yamal, as he left with his mother and the match ball, having made history once again.
