Lamine Yamal, the 18‑year‑old winger for FC Barcelona, spoke to ESPN about more than sporting topics, revealing everyday habits and personal details. The piece was prepared by the Barcelona editorial team and updated on 09/02/2026 at 23:31 CET.
He explained that he once tried culinary classes but gave them up because it did not suit him; he does not consider himself skilled in the kitchen and now limits himself to very simple dishes, mentioning that the most he can manage are nuggets with fries.
Off the pitch Yamal describes his life as typical for an 18‑year‑old: spending time with friends, looking after his brother, playing PlayStation and going for walks. He makes a conscious effort not to focus exclusively on football so he can disconnect and enjoy other aspects of life; that way he can give his all during matches and relax once he leaves the field.
Imagining a day without fame, he pictured starting with breakfast on a terrace, then a game of football in a local park—he mentioned the Rocafonda sports ground as an example—and later riding a bike or skating around with friends. This scenario highlights his preference for simple, everyday activities.
Yamal also recalled childhood memories: at school they used to play with Pokémon cards because consoles were not always affordable. He named Zygarde as his favourite Pokémon and joked about assigning characters to teammates: he linked Pikachu to Dani Olmo because of his blond hair and associated Charizard with goalkeeper Szczesny due to a certain resemblance in ‘aura’.
