Lamine Yamal greets the King but snubs Spain's PM Sánchez

Lamine Yamal greets the King but snubs Spain's PM Sánchez

The footballer who became the face of a multicultural Spain appears to snub the prime minister while embracing the monarch. A viral video has peine the rift between the government and the national team, but the evidence is contradictory.

The video spreading on social media

During the official reception after the national team's victory, Lamine Yamal reportedly greeted King Felipe VI effusively, but when he came across Pedro Sánchez, according to some witnesses, he turned his face away and walked past. Others insist he was simply exhausted after 48 hours of celebrations. The gesture was initially attributed to Yamal, but later investigations suggest it was a mix-up with another player, Dani Carvajal, who was involved in a similar moment in July 2024.

Two readings of the same event

Some argue that the footballer, who showed pro-Palestinian gestures during the tournament and avoided taking a political stance, wanted to distance himself from the prime minister. On the other side, others point to the players' exhaustion after a marathon tour and note that most of his teammates greeted everyone normally. The controversy has ended in mutual accusations of staging and disinformation.

A political cost for Sánchez

Beyond the video's authenticity, the spread of the hoax — or the real gesture — damages the prime minister's image. In a context of tension with the Royal Household and a weakening government, any slight from a popular figure like Lamine Yamal becomes political ammunition. The opposition has already used it to question Sánchez's authority, while government sources downplay the incident.

A question left hanging

Fatigue, strategy or simple confusion? What is certain is that the video has taken hold in public opinion and that, whether true or not, the narrative of a rift between the national team and the government is already underway.