MATARÓ, Spain — Lamine Yamal celebrated his first World Cup goal in honor of his uncle Abdul, who was working at Bar Familia LY 304 in Rocafonda, a neighborhood of Mataró, during Spain‘s 4-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia this past Sunday.
The goal was also dedicated to Nabil, who watched the match with his mother, Ayada, at the bar; and to Fouad and Hamid, among the men gathered outside, catching a glimpse of the action as the Barcelona forward made a significant statement in the tournament.
In the aftermath of the game, Yamal, just 18, expressed, “I dedicate the goal to my mother, my girlfriend, friends, and everyone back in Mataró,” as he spoke to DAZN.
Every footballer has their origins, a place that shapes their identity and becomes intertwined with their culture. However, Yamal’s story resonates deeply, as he consistently pays tribute to his roots.
The young talent was concerned he might miss this World Cup, his first since bursting onto the scene with Barcelona and Spain at just 15, due to a hamstring injury sustained in April. Fortunately, he made his return as a substitute in Spain’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde and earned a starting spot for the match against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta.
Yamal’s presence brings a new dynamic to the Spanish team. His exceptional ability, which contributed to their victory in the 2024 European Championships, has positioned Luis de la Fuente’s squad as favorites for the World Cup.
He opened the scoring in the 10th minute against Saudi Arabia, sliding in to finish a cross from Mikel Oyarzabal. Back in Rocafonda, cheers erupted from Abdul, clad in a Yamal Spain shirt, who was briefly distracted by orders for atay b’naanaa (Moroccan mint tea).
Yamal’s celebration, along with his post-match dedication, showcased his roots. He performed the iconic “304” hand sign, representing Rocafonda’s 08304 zip code, and included a sujood — a gesture of reverence to God. This made him Spain’s second-youngest World Cup scorer at 18 years and 343 days old, surpassed only by Gavi in 2022. Yamal, a practicing Muslim and member of Rocafonda’s large Moroccan community, has publicly denounced anti-Islam sentiments, such as the chants against him during a friendly against Egypt in March.
With this goal, Yamal became the eighth-youngest player to score at the World Cup and the second youngest to net the opening goal in a World Cup match since Pele, who scored at 17 years and 239 days during a 1958 match between Brazil and Wales.
The comparisons to Lionel Messi are inevitable. Two decades ago, Messi also scored his first World Cup goal at 18 while wearing the No. 19 shirt.
De la Fuente has cautioned against such comparisons, but even he acknowledged Yamal’s unique talent, likening him to iconic artists like Michelangelo and Salvador Dalí.
This comparison may not be misplaced. It’s possible that Yamal’s legacy will become as synonymous with Rocafonda as Dalí’s with Figueres. He has already managed to rally the neighborhood’s support for Spain, a feat not easily accomplished in the past.
Lamine Yamal making waves at the World Cup
📍 Rocafonda pic.twitter.com/fIfuNoDC5i
— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) June 22, 2026
Rocafonda’s unique ethnic makeup also adds depth to the narrative, situated in Catalonia, where there are sentiments of independence from Spain. Many locals support Barcelona but are indifferent to the national team’s achievements or failures.
In Rocafonda itself, where nearly half the population faces economic challenges according to the Institute of National Statistics, the demographics showcase significant immigration influences. By 2025 estimates, over half of the 12,000 residents were born outside Catalonia, with almost 4,000 being foreign nationals. The Moroccan community is particularly prominent, with nearly 20% of residents being Moroccan nationals, like Yamal, whose father hails from Morocco and mother from Equatorial Guinea.
Yamal was born in Esplugues de Llobregat, close to Barcelona, and has roots in both Granollers and Rocafonda, a place he often returns to.
As a warm Sunday afternoon gave way to evening, children poured out of their homes, heading up Ronda Rafael Estrany, leaving behind the shimmering Mataró coastline. They made their way to Plaça Joan XXIII, a place Yamal frequented as a child, once a hotspot for ball games, now a zone where such activities are prohibited — perhaps due to the physical intensity experienced there. Yamal recounted in an Interview with El País that one of his roughest tackles occurred there when he was just 14, taken down by a 25-year-old.
Nowadays, kids play in the park behind Club de Fútbol Rocafonda, alongside a vast mural celebrating Yamal in his Barça colors that adorns the wall behind one of the goals.
Despite the impending World Cup match, the atmosphere in Rocafonda is calm. Kids wear an array of football shirts, but not many represent Spain. The La Roja jerseys that do exist proudly display Yamal’s name. A man zooms past on a scooter in a Yamal shirt, while another group of children wears Barça jerseys featuring his name. Mixed in are shirts of Vinícius Junior for Brazil, Neymar’s old Barça jersey, and those from Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, yet the predominant shirt remains that of Morocco.
As the kickoff of Spain’s match approaches, this changes as you make your way back down Ronda Rafael Estrany toward Bar Familia LY 304.
“We support Lamine,” said Fouad, watching the match while donning Spain’s away white jersey. “We want Spain to succeed, as well as Morocco. If they face each other? We back Lamine.”
This sentiment resonated with the majority present at the bar. Every table was filled during the first half, before Yamal was substituted at halftime as he continues his recovery. The atmosphere felt relaxed and intimate, characterized by family and friends, primarily from the Moroccan diaspora, gathered for food, tea, and football.
Abdul, whose son Mohamed is often seen with Yamal, used to run a bakery nearby; his bar serves Moroccan dishes and is adorned with Yamal memorabilia and photographs.
Some items on display were once seen in the bakery, while the trophies of Yamal’s youth soccer career line the shelves behind the bar. Among them sits a replica World Cup trophy, one that Abdul has previously mentioned is meant for “my nephew when he wins the World Cup.”
That aspiration seemed ambitious at the time, yet now it feels more attainable than ever. Abdul hopes to witness the knockout stages in the United States next month, while Fouad and the other patrons will likely enjoy the growing excitement at Bar Familia LY 304, as Rocafonda’s own Michelangelo aims to create his own masterpiece in North America.
Yet, in uniting Rocafonda, Catalonia, and an extensive international fanbase in support of Spain, Yamal may have already achieved something far more significant.