FC Barcelona's 18-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal has garnered both admiration and attention for expressing solidarity with Palestine during the club's La Liga title celebrations on Monday.
In clips widely shared online, Yamal was seen waving a Palestinian flag from inside the open-top bus as it traveled through Barcelona's streets, cheered on by an estimated 750,000 jubilant fans. The young winger also posted pictures of himself holding the flag on his Instagram account.
The celebration came after Barcelona secured their 29th La Liga title with a 2-0 victory over bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday, marking only the second time the league championship has been decided by an El Clásico result.
On Tuesday, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was questioned about Yamal's decision to display the flag. "This I don't normally like," Flick told a news conference. "I spoke with him. I said if he wants this, it is his decision. He is old enough. He's 18 years old." Flick emphasized that making fans happy through football remains his priority.
Since October 2023, Barcelona has served as a major hub for pro-Palestinian activism in Spain, hosting large regular protests and serving as a departure point for aid flotillas attempting to break the blockade of Gaza. The gesture comes amid a global backlash against Israel over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza, which has spread to sports and culture worldwide. Spain is also boycotting the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's participation.
Yamal, already widely regarded as one of the world's best players and a potential successor to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is expected to be a star at the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July 2026.