Lamine Yamal reveals brother's favourite players — Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, not Messi

Who, what, when and why it matters: Spain and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has revealed that his three-year-old brother Keyne lists Neymar, Pedri, Raphinha, Yamal himself and Cristiano Ronaldo among his favourite players — notably leaving Lionel Messi off the list. The comments came in an interview recently shared by the Spanish Football Federation and are paired with an update on Yamal’s recovery from a partial tear to the biceps femoris in his left leg, ahead of Spain’s World Cup opener on June 15 against Cape Verde. This matters because Yamal is one of Spain’s most high-profile young stars and his fitness and public profile will attract attention during the tournament.

What Yamal said about his brother’s favourites

In the interview shared by the Spanish Federation, Yamal said his younger brother Keyne "likes Neymar, he likes Pedri, he likes Raphinha, he likes me. And well, Cristiano Ronaldo." The remark was noted for the absence of Lionel Messi from the list, despite Messi’s global profile and recent performances. Yamal also suggested that Keyne already understands he will play for Spain in future, though he admitted the child may not grasp the meaning of a World Cup.

Injury update and Spain team context

Yamal missed the remainder of Barcelona’s season after suffering a muscle issue — described in the source as a partial tear of the biceps femoris in his left leg — that occurred after he took a penalty in Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Celta on April 22. The article states there was a 54-day recovery period. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, speaking to Mundo Deportivo and quoted in the source, expressed optimism about Yamal’s availability for Spain’s opening match at the World Cup, saying he expected him to be fit for selection while also noting ongoing monitoring and communication with Barcelona.

Why it matters

Beyond the human-interest angle of a rising star talking about his toddler brother’s idols, the comments intersect with two practical storylines: Yamal’s fitness for the World Cup and the way elite youngsters are positioned as national assets in major tournaments. Any uncertainty over Yamal’s recovery would affect Spain’s attacking options and squad planning for the June 15 opener against Cape Verde, so manager remarks about the winger’s condition carry significance.

• Lamine Yamal said his three-year-old brother Keyne likes Neymar, Pedri, Raphinha, Lamine himself and Cristiano Ronaldo — Messi was not mentioned in the list.
• The comments were given in an interview recently shared by the Spanish Football Federation.
• Yamal suffered a partial tear to the biceps femoris in his left leg after Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Celta on April 22 and did not return to Barcelona action that season.
• The source reports a 54-day recovery period and quotes Spain manager Luis de la Fuente expressing optimism about Yamal’s availability for Spain’s World Cup opener on June 15 against Cape Verde.

Context: Barcelona, Spain and the World Cup

The source underlines Yamal’s rapid rise at Barcelona, which helps explain why his public remarks draw attention beyond routine player interviews. Spain arrive at the World Cup with Yamal among their attacking talents; manager Luis de la Fuente’s comments — relayed via Mundo Deportivo in the source — indicate the federation and club were in regular contact as the winger recovered. The article does not provide further medical specifics, squad lists, or Barcelona’s selection decisions beyond those items.

What happens next

According to the article, de la Fuente expected Yamal to be available for Spain’s first match on June 15, but final fitness will depend on how recovery evolves. Readers should look for official team news from Spain and medical confirmations from Barcelona or the Spanish Federation for definitive squad and fitness decisions ahead of the World Cup opener.