Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has offered fans a remarkably personal glimpse into his off-pitch life during an intimate tour of his current flat. The 18-year-old football prodigy, widely regarded as one of the world's best young players, shared details about his quirky habits, his disorganised side, and the very unusual reason he claims makes having a girlfriend difficult.
From Modest Flat to Multi-Million Pound Mansion
The house tour comes as Yamal is in the process of moving homes. He is leaving his current, relatively modest apartment, which he shares with his friend Sohaib and cousin Mohamed Abde, to take up residence in a stunning former mansion. The new property is the £12 million home once owned by Barcelona legend Gerard Pique and singer Shakira. This move underscores the rapid ascent and financial success the young Spaniard has achieved in his short career.
In his current abode, Yamal's personality is on full display. He confesses to being quite disorganised, admitting to once having a "huge mountain of clothes" piled in a room. He also has a collection of trophies and awards on display, though he sheepishly admits he doesn't remember what all of them are for. His interests are typical of many his age: he is a fan of PlayStation and Nintendo gaming consoles, action figures, and even has a soft spot for octopus teddies.
The Vanilla Obsession and Midnight Cookie Raids
One of his more fastidious traits is an obsession with scent. Yamal insists that everything in his house must smell of vanilla, from the air fresheners right down to his soap. "It's important that the house smells good," he stated. "I only like the smell of vanilla. I smell really good."
However, the most surprising revelation concerns his nocturnal routine. The footballer disclosed a bizarre habit that he believes would complicate a romantic relationship. Yamal deliberately tries to sleep early so he can wake up in the middle of the night – not to check the time, but specifically to eat cookies. A stash of the treats is kept conveniently by his bed.
"I love it. It's my favourite plan," Yamal explained with a grin. "That's why I can't have a girlfriend, because I wake up at night." This candid admission provides a humorous and humanising look at the superstar's life behind the glamour.
Treasures, Trophies and Launching a YouTube Career
The tour was conducted to launch Yamal's new YouTube channel, a venture that proved instantly successful, gaining almost 200,000 subscribers within just five hours of its first video being released. Throughout the footage, he is seen wearing a Colombian national team shirt with Liverpool winger Luis Diaz's name on the back, though his specific affinity for Diaz or Colombia remains unexplained.
Among the personal treasures on display are several career mementos. He has a replica of the Kopa Trophy, a ring commemorating Spain's European Championship win (which he has never worn), and a LaLiga Player of the Month award. The most prized possession, however, is the match ball from the 2024 European Championship semi-final, where he scored for Spain against France. "The most precious thing in my house: the ball I scored with against France," he said proudly. Spain went on to beat England 2-1 in the final.
The flat also contains VIP gifts like a signed vinyl record from Dr. Dre and golden Beats headphones. For leisure, besides gaming, Yamal enjoys board games and has a DJ set, expressing a hope to try his hand at disc jockeying. He holds fond memories of his school days, shown by a large certificate humorously dubbing him 'Dr Lamine Yamal', and keeps a childhood photo by his bed to look at before sleep.
Despite having an outdoor terrace, Yamal and his housemates never use it, as he feels paranoid about being seen. He also has a curious fondness for a small Powerade mini-fridge, calling it "the best fridge because it's very comfortable and small." As he prepares for his monumental move to Pique's old mansion, this snapshot of Lamine Yamal's current life reveals a global superstar who is, in many ways, still a relatable and slightly messy teenager with a sweet tooth for cookies and vanilla.
