‘A great admirer’ — Lemina softens tone after Yamal’s two assists
Mario Lemina’s pre-match dismissal of Lamine Yamal added an extra thread to Barcelona’s Champions League visit to Galatasaray, but the winger’s response came first on the pitch. The Catalans won 4-1 in Istanbul, with Yamal setting up two goals before extending the exchange on social media after the match.
MARCA reported on October 14, 2026, that Lemina had said before the game that he did not know Yamal and knew Leroy Sané. The remark was revived in the build-up to the fixture, giving the meeting an added personal subplot without making the match itself about a settled rivalry.
Yamal did not score, but he assisted Fermín for Barcelona’s opening goal and later set up Gordon for the third. After the final whistle, he posted a pointed response on Instagram, prompting reactions from team-mate Raphinha and Adidas before Lemina replied in a markedly warmer tone.
According to MARCA, Lemina’s response congratulated Yamal and made clear that he did know the Barcelona winger, adding that his child was a great admirer. The exchange turned from a pre-match provocation into a public, good-humoured interaction, with both players’ posts drawing attention after the result.
Raphinha joined the comments by suggesting Lemina knew Yamal now, while Adidas made a joke likening the winger’s display to a live tutorial. The attention centred on Yamal’s second assist, a near-rabona delivery that became one of the most widely shared moments from the game. His earlier pass to Fermín had also helped Barcelona break through after a difficult first half.
The 4-1 scoreline was completed by Adeyemi’s fourth goal, according to MARCA. Yamal’s contribution was therefore more than a social-media retort: he had a direct hand in two of Barcelona’s goals, including the move that sealed the result before the late addition.
The episode also fits the growing attention around Yamal’s status and workload at Barcelona, as Hansi Flick’s praise of the winger has reflected his importance to the side. The Galatasaray performance gave that discussion a fresh on-field example, while the social exchange gave Lemina an opportunity to soften the tone publicly.
For Barcelona, the evening in Istanbul ended with a decisive win and two assists from Yamal; for the players, the exchange appears to have concluded on friendly terms. Lemina’s congratulatory reply was the latest public turn in a story that began with his pre-match comment.
