Spanish Prodigy Lamine Yamal to Fast During Key Nations League Matches

Lamine Yamal is not the first Muslim player to wear the Spanish national team jersey. But unlike his predecessors like Adama Traoré and Ansu Fati who had no matches scheduled during the month of Ramadan, the star of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean origin will participate in the matches against the Netherlands in the Nations League in the middle of the holy month. A first in the history of the Spanish team, reports Marca.

Lamine Yamal has decided this year to observe the Ramadan fast. The young Barcelona striker explained in an interview with DAZN how he is experiencing his Ramadan: "We are not hungry. The important thing is to stay hydrated, and that’s something I control with the club. I get up at five in the morning to pray. I take electrolytes, which hydrate you a lot during the day. When it’s time to eat, I try not to take any sugar, to drink a lot of water. Everything is very controlled." The medical staff of La Roja will ensure that fasting does not affect Lamine Yamal’s performance on the field.

To have a good Ramadan month, high-level athletes like Yamal are advised to stay well hydrated between Iftar (the evening meal that breaks the fast) and Suhur (the pre-dawn meal), preferably in small quantities and frequently (less than 200 ml every half hour). As for food, it is recommended to consume between 6 and 10 grams of carbohydrates and between 1.2 and 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.