Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has said that visiting a mosque brings a deep sense of peace, regardless of a person’s faith.

Accustomed to roaring crowds, packed stadiums, flashing cameras, and the heavy expectations placed on football prodigies, Yamal spoke recently about something far removed from the noise of the pitch: inner calm.

During a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the young star reflected on the spiritual atmosphere of the place. “The mosque gives a person great peace,” Yamal said. “No matter what religion you belong to, when you go there, you feel this peace. For us Muslims, this peace is much more special.”

The comments, shared during his early January 2026 trip to the United Arab Emirates, quickly spread across social media, offering a rare glimpse into how one of football’s brightest young talents finds balance away from the game.

Born in Mataró, Spain, in 2007 to a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana has risen at a remarkable pace. He joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy at the age of seven, made his first-team debut at just 15, and has since become a key figure for both club and country.

His global breakthrough came at Euro 2024, where he played a decisive role in Spain’s title-winning campaign and was named the tournament’s Best Young Player at only 16.

Now 18, Yamal remains central to Barcelona’s ambitions in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and domestic competitions during the 2025–26 season, continuing to balance elite performance with a strong sense of identity and faith.