Lamine Yamal offered a subtle answer to speculation about his private life in the moments after Spain’s emphatic win over Turkey.
The Barcelona teenager was filmed by his team-mate, Nico Williams, in the dressing room, smiling as he showed his phone screen with his girlfriend, Nicki Nicole, pictured as his wallpaper.
Williams shared the clip with the teasing caption ‘Mi chaval está in love,’ which translates as ‘My boy is in love.’
The light-hearted exchange appeared to confirm that Yamal, 18, remains in a relationship with Nicole, despite reports in Spain last week that the couple had split.
Marca claimed they had deleted all traces of each other on Instagram just 13 days after going public, prompting rumours of a break-up.
The video, widely shared on social media on Sunday night, poured cold water on those claims and appeared to show the pair were still together.
Lamine Yamal offered a subtle answer to speculation about his private life in the moments after Spain’s emphatic win over Turkey
Reports in Spain claimed that Yamal and his Nicole had split just 13 days after going official
The pair sparked romance rumours when Nicole was spotted attending the Barcelona star’s 18th birthday celebrations. She was later pictured in the stands to watch Yamal and his side take on Como
It came at the end of a night when Spain demolished Turkey in Konya, with Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino scoring a hat-trick in a 6-0 victory.
Merino’s third in the 57th minute was the pick of the goals as he collected a pass from Yamal and curled home from over 20 yards out. The 29-year-old has now scored six goals in six games for Spain in 2025, having netted just twice in his first 31 caps.
Pedri added two goals and Ferran Torres also struck, while Mikel Oyarzabal set up three of the goals as Luis de la Fuente’s side stunned their hosts. Spain have now won their opening two World Cup qualifiers in Group E, while Turkey and Georgia sit on three points.
There was also drama after the final whistle. According to Turkish outlet Beyaz Futbol, Yamal lost his passport as the squad prepared to leave the stadium.
Footage showed the frustrated winger scrambling through his suitcase in search of the document, holding up the team bus as staff and players waited to depart.
For Yamal, the clip with Williams was as significant as his assist on the pitch. The teenager has found himself under intense scrutiny since turning 18 in July, when he hosted a controversial birthday party in Barcelona that drew criticism from disability campaigners.
Nicole, a 25-year-old Argentinian rapper, was reported to have attended the event and was later pictured at Barcelona’s friendly against Como on August 10.
The pair eventually went Instagram official on August 25 when Yamal posted a picture of them together on Nicole’s birthday, adding only a cake and heart emoji.
According to Turkish outlet Beyaz Futbol, Yamal lost his passport as the squad prepared to leave the stadium
Yamal had been the subject of headlines earlier this summer after holidaying with Fati Vazquez (pictured), a flight attendant and OnlyFans model 12 years his senior
But gossip columns soon claimed the romance was short-lived, pointing out that there were no lasting photos of the couple on Instagram and suggesting that the relationship had ended.
Yamal’s private life has been a recurring theme this summer. Before linking up with Nicole he had been spotted holidaying with 30-year-old OnlyFans model Fati Vazquez, who was photographed with him and left a lipstick mark on his cheek in a social media post.
His lavish birthday party also sparked a government call for investigation after allegations that organisers had hired women with specific measurements and exploited performers.
The teenager has been warned about the risks of distraction, with former USA wonderkid Freddy Adu even urging him to focus on his football to avoid the pitfalls that derailed his own career.
