Lamine Yamal Says He Has Experienced Racism ‘A Thousand Times’
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal says racism has been a repeated experience throughout his football career.
- Yamal says he has faced racism “a thousand times.”
- He was targeted by online racist abuse in Spain.
- Yamal has won La Liga three times.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal says he has experienced racism “a thousand times”, saying people sometimes make offensive comments or behave in racist ways without realising it.
The 19-year-old has been the subject of repeated online racist abuse in Spain. Earlier this year, the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia identified Yamal and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr as among the most frequent targets of online racist abuse in the country during the final quarter of 2025.
Yamal was also among Barcelona players subjected to racist abuse during El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in October 2024.
Speaking to broadcaster Movistar, Yamal said racism had been a recurring experience throughout his rapid rise in football.
“I have experienced it a thousand times,” he said. “People are indirectly racist towards you, but maybe they don’t realise it.”
Yamal made his Barcelona debut at the age of 15 and has since won La Liga three times with the club. He also helped Spain win the World Cup in July.
