Lamine Yamal, 18, said his frequently bandaged hand isn’t an injury mystery—he traces it to a PlayStation accident that made his fingers swell, and he now wears the tape as a fashion-style nod.
Lamine Yamal is 18. newly arrived in the United States for this summer’s World Cup. and already one of the tournament’s biggest storylines. With Barcelona as the heartbeat of a side that has won back-to-back championships. he’s finished runner-up for the Ballon d’Or and could be in position to win best player of the year if he leads Spain to their second World Cup in July.
On the international stage, Spain has leaned on him before. Two years ago, he won the Euros, and he broke onto the scene with a goal in the semifinals against France before assisting in Spain’s final win over England.
But for many fans watching him, the biggest mystery has been his hand. His fingers are regularly wrapped in bandages—sometimes even when he isn’t dealing with an injury. The internet filled in the blanks with explanations. including the idea that he was carrying a lingering issue from playing against adults as a teenager.
In a recent video about the upcoming World Cup, Yamal answered the question himself.
“Bandage on my hand when I play?” he mused, as he walked through the origin. “Because once, I was playing with the PlayStation and hit the TV, and my fingers swelled up. Then afterward, I saw that the bandage suited me well, as if I were Karim Benzema.”
Karim Benzema is known for having his hand taped up—though his case came from real injury. Benzema broke his pinky finger in 2019, chose to push through instead of having surgery, and the taped hand became part of his public image.
Yamal’s version is different. This June, if viewers see him wrapped and wonder whether he’s hurt, he’s telling them not to worry. His hand bandages aren’t a sign of ongoing trouble; he’s using them as a style statement, borrowing the vibe of a football icon and turning an old mishap into a look.
Lamine Yamal Spain World Cup Barcelona Ballon d'Or Euros Karim Benzema sports news hand bandage