Lamine Yamal: I have faced racism ‘a thousand times’

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal says he has experienced racism “a thousand times”, describing it as a recurring part of his rise to prominence in football.

The Spain international told broadcaster Movistar that many racist comments or behaviours come from people who “don’t even realise” they are being offensive.

His comments come after Spain’s government-run Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia said earlier this year that Yamal and Vinicius Jr were the most frequent targets of online racist abuse in the country during the final quarter of 2025.

Yamal was also among the Barcelona players subjected to racist abuse during El Clasico at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in October 2024.

Reflecting on his experiences, the 19-year-old said racism had been a regular feature of his career.

“A thousand times. People are indirectly racist toward you, but maybe don’t realise it,” he said.

“There are a lot of comments or looks that are racist, and they don’t even notice.”

Yamal added that references to his race did not affect him unless they were intended as an insult.

“If someone calls me Black, it’s not going to bother me at all; ultimately, I’m Black, I’m not any other colour,” he said.

“Another thing is whether it’s good or bad, whether they’re saying it to offend me.”

The winger, who helped Spain win the World Cup in July, said he prefers not to let abuse distract him while playing.

“If I’m playing a match and they paid for a ticket to see me, I’m not going to get angry just because they disrespected me,” he said.

Yamal’s remarks add to the ongoing debate about racism in Spanish football, where several high-profile players, including Vinicius Jr., have repeatedly spoken out about discriminatory abuse both in stadiums and on social media.