Lamine Yamal's coming-of-age debut hasn't gone unnoticed. The young FC Barcelona talent celebrated his 18th birthday at a secret party filled with luxury and surprises. However, not everything was glamorous.
The celebration ended up surrounded by controversy. The Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism reported that "people with dwarfism" had been hired as part of the entertainment. This has sparked several criticisms.
Lamine Yamal and his mother's family rumor confirmed
Amid the controversy, attention has once again turned to the environment that has accompanied Yamal since his beginnings. In particular, the figure of Sheila Ebana, his mother, stands out as a key piece in his personal and professional balance.
Sheila is an essential pillar in the footballer's life; her discretion contrasts with Lamine's media rise. Raised in Equatorial Guinea, Sheila arrived in Spain while still young, and in Catalonia, she formed the family that saw the now sports star born.
Although her marriage to Mounir Yamal lasted only a short time after Lamine's birth, both have kept a cordial relationship for the player's benefit. Yamal's start in soccer required sacrifices from his mother.
To support his passion, Sheila requested a transfer at her job at McDonald's to a location closer to CF La Torreta. Later, she left the restaurant industry and trained as an early childhood education professional, working at a daycare center.
Sheila Ebana is an essential pillar for Lamine Yamal
With Lamine Yamal's success, Sheila has gained notable presence on social media. In this context, she has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 1.5 million on TikTok. Nevertheless, she keeps a reserved profile, mostly sharing family moments with her children.
Her entry into the public sphere has been gradual and always marked by restraint and affection. The birth of her second son, Kenay, from her relationship with her current partner, has further strengthened the footballer's emotional environment.
Lamine Yamal has acknowledged in interviews his mother's decisive influence: "I have good memories of my childhood. I always tell my mother that I'm very grateful to her because, with how hard things were for her, she made sure I didn't see anything bad."
"Maybe I didn't have the best childhood in the world, but my mother made sure I didn't see anything, only the beautiful things." Sheila Ebana's loyalty to her son has been pointed out by many as one of the essential factors in his precocity and emotional stability.
Amid the controversy surrounding Lamine Yamal's birthday celebration, the role of his mother, Sheila Ebana, stands out. Far from the spotlight and media noise, she has been the support that has accompanied his personal and athletic development with discretion and dedication.