TA: Yamal's name comes from two friends who helped his parents when he was born.

On July 14 local time, The Athletic introduced the origin of Spanish football star Yamar's name, stating that part of his name comes from two friends who helped his parents when he was born.

Like most Spaniards, Yamal has two surnames—one inherited from his father and one from his mother, Nasraoyi and Ebana respectively.

However, like many Spanish players – including his former Barcelona coach Xavi and his Barcelona teammate Pedri – Yamar has used his first name, not his surname, throughout his career.

In his case, the name consists of two parts, similar in form to that of another Barcelona legend and current Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique.

Whether playing for the Spanish national team or Barcelona, Yamal's jersey always bears the name Lamine Yamal on the back. However, on his passport and Spanish ID card, his full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana.

Lamine is a very common Arabic name that can be translated as "honest" or "trustworthy." It is a title of honor bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad.

Yamal is a variant of the widely used Arabic name Jamal, meaning "beautiful," "graceful," or "charming." Anyone who has seen him play football would probably think that both names suit him perfectly.

For a child born in July 2007 to a Catalan immigrant family, both names are actually quite common. Yamal's father, Munir Nasraui, was born in Morocco, while his mother, Sheila Ebana, was born in Equatorial Guinea.

However, what makes this story truly special—and what the Spanish media has long reported on—is that both names were actually given by Yamal's parents to thank two friends.

When Yamal was born, his mother, Ebana, was only 16 years old. Like many young parents, she and Nasraui faced immense pressure after welcoming their new life and needed financial support from those around them to cope with their new responsibilities.

According to this story, two male family friends provided them with tremendous support during their most difficult time. One was named Lamin, and the other was named Yamal.

To express their gratitude for the help, the young parents decided to name their child Ramin Yamal Nasrai Ebana.

That little boy from back then has experienced so much in his life since then, and his legendary experiences go far beyond just taking a photo with Messi when he was five months old.

At the age of 12, he left his hometown further north on the Catalan coast to join Barcelona's renowned La Masia youth academy. He then won the La Liga title with Barça and helped the Spanish national team win the 2024 European Championship.

In 2025, he signed a new contract with Barcelona, with a pre-tax annual salary of up to 40 million euros.

At the same time, he also signed commercial endorsement contracts with international brands such as Adidas, American Eagle, Visa, Coca-Cola, and Beats by Dre.

Throughout his journey, Yamal repeatedly spoke of the hardships of his childhood, especially the experiences of his parents and family and friends in the Rocafonta neighborhood of Mataró, Catalonia. It's a predominantly immigrant community and one of the poorest areas in Spain.

In early July this year, Yamal said in an interview with SER radio: "You see, my mother gave birth to me when she was 16. My father also had to go out and find ways to make a living, sometimes even picking up things on the street just to bring some food home. For me, that is the real pressure, not the pressure I am facing now."

His signature "304" celebration is a tribute to the last three digits of Rocafontaine's postal code, "304". In many media interviews, he has also emphasized that it was his parents' sacrifices that enabled him to pursue his football dream.

However, the identities of the two friends who helped the young parents—Lamin and Yamar—remain unknown.

Yamal himself has never confirmed any information about them, and Nasraui and Ebana have never revealed their relationship with him or what kind of help they provided back then.

As for why these two mysterious benefactors have never revealed their identities, the outside world remains unaware.

Perhaps they enjoy their current quiet lives; perhaps they don't want their presence to overshadow the player; or perhaps they simply don't want to relive those difficult years nearly 20 years ago.