Lamine Yamal’s emotional tribute to his mother despite childhood struggles

Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old World Cup winner, has spoken openly about a childhood shaped by financial hardship and parental sacrifice. His mother, Sheila Ebana, emigrated from Equatorial Guinea to Spain as a teenager, had Yamal at 16, and raised him largely alone after separating from his father when Lamine was three. Yamal credits her with shielding him from the worst of their circumstances, saying she made him see only the beautiful side of life. He also reflected on his rapid rise at Barcelona, describing himself as a creative and entertaining player who never anticipated reaching the first team quite so quickly