Lamine Yamal pokes fun at Rafael van der Vaart criticism with goal celebration

03/24/2025 06:25 AM

Lamine Yamal lowered his shorts after scoring against the Netherlands to mock Rafael van der Vaart's criticism of the teenager.

The teenager scored Spain's 103rd minute goal as their Nations League clash went to extra-time against the Dutch.

As he reeled off to celebrate he pulled his shorts low and confidently strutted alongside teammates Nico Williams and Mikel Merino.

This was in reply to what Van der Vaart said prior to the match about the Barcelona winger.

He said: "I noticed some things about Lamine Yamal that started to annoy me. His shorts were too low, he didn't try too hard, he had some superficial gestures… I didn't like this."

The Nations League quarter-final later finished 5-5 on aggregate after extra-time as the Dutch equalised thanks to a Xavi Simons penalty.

Spain went on to win 5-4 on penalties. They took the advantage as Noa Lang smashed his shot against the crossbar but Yamal failed to convert afterwards.

Thankfully Unai Simon saved Donyell Malen's shot, allowing Pedri to conclude the match and progress Spain into the semi-finals to spite Van der Vaart. 

After the match Yamal posted a picture to social media platform Instagram, and said: "Pants down, goal scored, missed penalty and in the semifinals… vamos, Spain."

This is not the first time Yamal's critics have ended up on the losing side as Adrien Rabiot can lay testament to.

Ahead of France's Euros 2024 quarter-final against Spain, Rabiot said: "It’s up to us to put pressure on him and to take him out of his comfort zone. And to reach a final at the Euros, he needs to do more than he’s done up until now."

Yamal later scored a wonder goal, wrongfooting Rabiot who failed to block the effort.

The 17-year-old has continued to set the world alight after his breakout Euros 2024 campaign when Spain emerged victors.

As the numbers suggest, he has continued to improve, proven by his 13 goals and 17 assists that has pushed Barcelona to the top of La Liga and a Champions League quarter-final matchup against Dortmund.  

Hansi Flick's Barcelona, despite holding the same points tally as Real Madrid on 60, are first in the league because of the head to head record between the two sides.

Unlike the Premier League, La Liga when there is a tiebreaker does not decide its victors via goal difference.

Instead it is decided via points between the tied teams. If they are equal it then goes to goal difference between the two clubs, then their season goal difference.

Barcelona and Real Madrid's only league meeting this season ended in Carlo Ancelotti's men being defeated 4-0 at the Barnabeu as Yamal netted his team's third.

The rematch is scheduled for Sunday 11 May.