Lamine Yamal Far Better Than Government Ministers

For Alberto Edjogo-Owono Montalbán, football stadiums are a reflection of society’s tensions. In his work Heridas en la piel, the former Sabadell and Espanyol player, who became a consultant for DAZN, revisits the profound impact of racism on athletes. Born to an Equatorial Guinean father, he reveals he examined this scourge out of a sense of responsibility, particularly toward the new generation, and advocates for calm reflection in the face of social media’s immediacy.

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He denounces the injunction to be the "good Black person" that weighs on racialized athletes. Educated by his parents to be irreproachable to avoid stereotypes, he observes that this pressure now applies to prodigy Lamine Yamal. "When an 18-year-old player makes a mistake, it’s a youthful error. When it’s Lamine Yamal, many cite his origins," he explains in an interview with the newspaper Ara, arguing it’s unfair that an individual act condemns an entire group.

Insults leave indelible marks. Edjogo mentions the case of Nigerian goalkeeper Wilfred, a pioneer who had to maintain composure in the face of taunts. According to him, racism leaves a psychological "scar" that undermines confidence and questions identity, even among exemplary citizens. He regrets that amused reactions, such as Dani Alves eating a banana thrown on the pitch, minimize the severity of these degrading acts.

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While some accuse Vinícius of provoking these insults, the author reminds us that other players, such as Tchouaméni or Rüdiger, are also victims. He praises the ability of athletes like Lamine Yamal to embody success. "If he speaks out, he has more impact than the Minister of Equality. Thousands of children want to be like him," he concludes, seeing in him a role model capable of inspiring vocations and combating prejudice.