Yamal responds to Lemina after Barcelona's thrashing in Istanbul

Barcelona's 4-1 win over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League group stage secures the Spanish side a significant advantage in Group B and reinforces the profile of young Spanish forward Lamine Yamal, who celebrated the victory with a direct response to the opponent's comments.

The exchange of words

Before the match, Galatasaray defender Mario Lemina had stated that he did not know Yamal and that he preferred his teammate Leroy Sane, saying: “Who is Lamine Yamal? I don’t know him. I know Sane.”

After the victory, Yamal posted on Instagram a series of images that included his Most Valuable Player award and the phrase “He know me now?”, making his response to Lemina clear.

Barcelona itself, represented by defender Eric García, also criticized Lemina. In an interview, García said that “Yamal doesn’t need extra motivation” and that some talk too much about him.

Yamal shines in Champions League and targets Lemina on social media

When García was asked who he was referring to, he replied with a laugh: “He knows, he will know!”

The match took place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex in Istanbul, Turkey, and was covered by AFP via Getty Images.

With the win, Barcelona strengthens its position in the competition and Yamal consolidates his growing prominence, while Lemina is under pressure from his own statements.