At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal continues to captivate football fans around the world. The rising star of FC Barcelona, currently preparing for the 2026 World Cup with the Spain national football team, has finally explained the reason behind one of his most recognizable trademarks: the bandage he constantly wears on his hand.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Yamal revealed that the story began with an unfortunate gaming accident. “While playing PlayStation, I hit the television and badly injured my fingers. They became extremely swollen,” he admitted.

What started as a necessity soon turned into a personal trademark. Once the swelling disappeared, Yamal decided to keep wearing the bandage because he liked the look and associated it with Karim Benzema, one of the players he has long admired. A joke among friends about the legendary “KB9” eventually became part of his identity both on and off the pitch.

The Barcelona star also made headlines with a bold promise ahead of the World Cup. Yamal stated that if Spain lifts the trophy in 2026, he will grow a beard and mustache for three weeks and give away 100 Beats headphones to fans. Meanwhile, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente provided reassuring news by confirming that both Yamal and Nico Williams will be fit and available for the start of the tourYamal also demonstrated remarkable maturity when reflecting on his second-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or race. Rather than dwelling on the disappointment, he admitted that losing to Ousmane Dembélé helped him grow both personally and professionally. According to the Spanish youngster, it simply was not yet his time to win football’s most prestigious individual award—a perspective that highlights the maturity behind one of the game’s brightest talents.

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