Lamine Yamal criticised after Real Madrid end Barcelona’s winning run

Real Madrid won the latest El Clasico, ending Barcelona’s run of victories, while Jose Mourinho underlined his ability to compete with them on equal terms. But the result was not the only setback for Barcelona, with the team’s overall performance and Lamine Yamal’s display attracting particular criticism.

Yamal appeared unusually subdued and produced what was described as possibly his poorest performance of the season so far. He offered little support, failed to unsettle the Real Madrid defence and allowed his Spain team-mate Marco Cucurella to enjoy a memorable evening.

The criticism extended beyond his performance. From the opening minutes, Yamal was accused of appearing more concerned with his own image and with the prospect of being recognised as a future Ballon d’Or winner than with Barcelona’s needs in the match.

Damaging numbers

During his 90 minutes on the pitch, Yamal did not have a shot on target. Three of his attempts went wide, while one was saved by Huijsen. His expected goals (xG) figure was 0.51, and he missed a major chance to score.

He was also ineffective as a creator. Yamal produced no chances and attempted only two long passes, both of which reached Real Madrid defenders. His expected assists (xA) figure stood at just 0.06.

His dribbling statistics offered little consolation. He completed only four of nine attempted take-ons, meaning his contribution in attack was limited throughout the game.

The article also criticised an incident five minutes into the match, when Yamal stood on the ball for several seconds in front of Cucurella. The move was described as an unnecessary piece of showboating that slowed play and disrupted a promising Barcelona attack.

That moment was presented as evidence that Yamal had become focused on winning an individual contest against his Spain team-mate rather than helping Barcelona win El Clasico.

Cristiano Ronaldo was used as a comparison. The Portuguese forward is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, with some considering him the best ever. However, the criticism of Ronaldo’s character has often centred on his self-confidence and his tendency to view others as inferior.

The article argued that, unlike Ronaldo, whose effectiveness over a long career helped establish his legendary status, Yamal had displayed arrogance both on and off the pitch despite not yet winning the Ballon d’Or or the UEFA Champions League.

Comparisons with Messi and Neymar

Yamal was also accused of forgetting that he wears Lionel Messi’s shirt at Barcelona. Messi was portrayed not only as an exceptional dribbler, passer and goalscorer, but as a player who placed the team first.

The criticism suggested that Yamal had instead prioritised his personal achievements and the reaction he expected on social media, raising doubts over whether he could succeed Messi as Barcelona’s leading figure.

Yamal has made no secret of his admiration for Neymar, and the article argued that the Brazilian’s personality, as well as his football, may have influenced him. It accused Yamal of excessive dribbling, an emphasis on individual performance and an awareness of social-media attention.

He was described as an unattractive version of Neymar, rather than a player reflecting the Brazilian’s performances when he carried Barcelona during Lionel Messi’s absence in the first half of 2015-16, helped Paris Saint-Germain reach their first UEFA Champions League final or represented Brazil.

Yamal remains young and may mature beyond this difficult phase. But after once saying that nobody had the right to criticise him as long as he kept winning, the article concluded that defeat left him open to criticism.

Barcelona’s listed fixtures include Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026 in La Liga and Racing Santander on 1 November 2026, while Real Madrid is also listed in the schedule.