As the World Cup final approaches, Lamine Yamal, a 19-year-old soccer star, stands at the center of a national dialogue about Spain’s evolving multicultural identity.
In Rocafonda, the neighborhood where Yamal was raised, a crowd gathers to watch him play against France in the semifinals. The area holds personal significance for Yamal; it is where he first developed his talent, under the watchful eye of his grandmother, Fatima Romani.
Romani, who remembers a time when acceptance was not universal, recounts derogatory comments from others when Yamal scored as a child. Despite these challenges, she reflects on the positive changes witnessed over the years.
Wearing a navy hijab and leaning on a walking stick, Romani expresses pride in her grandson’s achievements. Her eyes fill with tears as she considers how both Yamal and Spain have evolved. Now, many Spaniards proudly display his name, a significant shift from past sentiments.
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