Lamine Yamal (2nd, L) with his mother (L) and relatives at his birthday party at a restaurant on July 12, 2025. Photo by Instagram/@lamineyamal |
Yamal celebrated his milestone at a restaurant with family and friends before hosting a larger gathering at another venue, with over 200 guests, including his Barça teammates and popular influencers like the Buyer Brothers, TheGrefg, SofiG, IlloJuan and IShowSpeed on July 12.
According to MarkYamal also employed a group of dwarfs for entertainment.
Spanish law prohibits performances involving disabled individuals that could cause mockery or ridicule.
The Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE) publicly condemned Yamal’s actions, vowing to take legal and social action to protect the dignity of people with disabilities. The association emphasized the harmful message this incident sends, particularly to young people, about accepting discrimination.
“It’s unacceptable that in the 21st century, people with dwarfism continue to be used as entertainment at private parties,” said ADEE president Carolina Puente, as quoted by the Express Tribube. “The dignity and rights of our community are not entertainment for anyone, under any circumstances.”
Football analyst and Atletico Madrid supporter Gonzalo Miro also criticized Yamal, questioning whether his actions would harm his promising career.
“If I were a Barcelona fan, my concern would be whether this behavior will derail his rise and whether he truly understands the responsibilities of being an elite athlete,” Miro said, the Express Tribube reported.
Yamal made his professional debut at just 15 years old at the end of the 2022-2023 season. In 2024, he played a key role in Spain’s Euro victory. In the 2024-2025 season, Yamal continued to impress, scoring 18 goals and providing 25 assists in 55 matches, helping Barcelona secure La Liga, Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey.
On Sunday, Yamal and his teammates returned to the club for training. Barcelona are scheduled to tour Japan and South Korea later this month in preparation for the upcoming season.