Video: Yamal broke royal protocol by hugging the King of Spain
Spanish national team forward Lamine Yamal was one of the stars of the celebratory reception following the team’s victory at the 2026 World Cup. During a meeting with the royal family, the soccer player unexpectedly hugged King Felipe VI, breaking with traditional protocol.
Following their historic 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, the newly crowned world champions were welcomed at the Zarzuela Palace. King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía congratulated the players and coaching staff on Spain’s second-ever World Cup title.
During the official ceremony, the players approached the members of the royal family one by one. Most of them limited themselves to a traditional handshake and brief greetings.
However, Lamine Yamal decided to do things differently. After shaking hands with King Felipe VI, the 19-year-old forward unexpectedly hugged the monarch. This moment was captured on video and attracted significant attention from fans on social media.
Despite the formality of royal protocol, Yamal’s gesture was seen as an expression of genuine joy following the greatest success of his career.
At the 2026 World Cup, Yamal played eight matches for the Spanish national team, scoring one goal and recording one assist.
At 19, the soccer player already has two major international trophies with the national team to his credit. In 2024, he became European champion when Spain defeated England in the Euro final.
This was reported by the Spanish publication Marca.
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