The headlines when it comes to Spain and their World Cup final journey have been all about Lamine Yamal and the wizardry he shows on the field. The Barcelona forward is all set to face off against one of his idols, Lionel Messi, in the summit clash, with anticipation building towards the face-off between the two.
Despite this, it isn’t Lamine who has become the darling of football fans this year. It remains a family affair, and it is his three-year-old brother Keyne who has become the viral sensation of the World Cup so far. He has become Spain’s unlikely hero this time around, thanks to a series of cute moments that have been lapped up by the fans on social media.
Be it from the stands and appearing on the giant screen to bring a smile to his elder brother’s face or just being an all-round entertainer during matches and after them, Keyne has become the most recognisable face at this year’s tournament.
WHO IS KEYNE YAMAL?
Keyne is the younger half-brother of Lamine. After the Spanish forward’s mother, Sheila Ebana remarried, Keyne was born in September 2022.
The Yamal brothers are a regular sighting on social media, where they post videos of themselves dancing, riding toy cars and spending time as a family.
Lamine talked about the bond he shares with his younger brother, saying that he is happy seeing Keyne goof around and get a lot of love from around the globe.
“I’m moved when I see my little brother this happy, as well as seeing my mum and friends living the life they always dreamed of,” Yamal said, according to The Athletic.
“My little brother means everything to me. I am in love with him; it feels like he is my son.”
HOW DID KEYNE BECOME FAMOUS?
Keyne wasn’t an overnight sensation and was always connected with Lamine’s journey since his breakout season in 2023. But the reason for his viral following this World Cup has just been the enthusiasm he shows during all the matches.
The biggest moment for Keyne came during Spain’s Round of 32 win against Austria, when he was seen shouting ‘vamos’ on the big screen while being in the midst of the La Roja supporters.
He was also seen making funny faces and waving at the cameras during matches. During the quarterfinals, Keyne was seen sticking out his tongue for the cameras, which brought a smile to elder brother Lamine’s face.
The Spanish forward revealed that it was a plan from his younger brother.
“I was at physio, and he called me using my mum’s phone, and told me that he was going to stick his tongue out tomorrow.”
“So that’s why when I saw him on the screen, it really made me laugh,” said Lamine during a press conference as quoted by The Athletic.
After Spain’s win against France in the semi-final, Keyne rushed to jump into Lamine’s arms, making the fans fall more in love with him.
With Spain chasing their second World Cup crown, Keyne has surely brought luck to the team as their unofficial mascot. It will be interesting to see which funny reactions he has reserved for Messi and Argentina on Sunday, July 19.
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