FC Barcelona star Raphinha gives Lamine Yamal this touching reward

As evidenced by images shared on social mediaFC Barcelona star Raphinha rewarded teammate Lamine Yamal for winning the Kopa Trophy by giving him a gold iPhone.

The 17-year-old whiz kid started life in Barcelona’s first team as the Brazilian’s positional rival on the right wing.

Raphinha essentially lost his place to the La Masia product after Lamine gradually rose to prominence under Xavi Hernandez, but Raphinha was always a good sport and welcomed competition.

“It’s a privilege that Lamine is competing with me because he’s going to be a high-level player, one of the best,” Raphinha said after last season’s victory over Getafe.

“It’s an honor and this makes us better, both me and him. It makes me want to give more as a player and I’m sure Lamine thinks the same. This competition in a team like Barcelona is good” , he added.

Raphinha was moved to the left wing. But instead of diving into the hole and playing the victim, he has adapted to the role under Hansi Flick and is now in the form of his life, scoring a litany of goals – including two hat-tricks – and assists which Barca are currently at the top of. La Liga is nine points behind this season.

Injuries to Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong have also meant that Raphinha has worn the captain’s armband quite often in 2024/2025 and has proven to be a great leader and fan favourite.

Culers and pundits have noted that he welcomed the younger members of the team to celebrate goals with the older players, and in another heart-warming touch, he rewarded Lamine with a gold iPhone bearing his name and number.

This was a reward for Lamine winning the Kopa Trophy for the best male footballer under 21 at the Ballon d’Or ceremonyand a popular X account called Raphinha “more than a captain” for the gesture.

Footage shared on social media shows Lamine receiving the surprise gift and sharing a hug with Raphinha, who believes his colleague looks more like compatriot Neymar than the Barca icon in Lionel Messi to whom Lamine is often compared.

“The most important thing (in football) is that you know what you are going to do before the ball comes to you,” Raphinha explains. El Pais.

“To have the entire playing field mapped out. You have to take your eyes off the ball and look at everything that’s going on around you. The people who do that are geniuses.”

When asked if Lamine is following the path of an ‘alien’ Messi as both players boast this rare gift, Raphinha said he sees the teenager as ‘more like Neymar’.