Lamine Yamal has taken a playful dig at Mario Lemina following Barcelona’s impressive 4-1 victory over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on October 13, 2026.
The Barcelona teenager posted on Instagram after the match, sharing photos of himself holding the Player of the Match trophy and celebrating on the pitch at RAMS Park with family and friends.
His caption was brief but pointed: “He know me now? 👻”
The post referenced comments Lemina made in August 2025, when the Gabonese midfielder was asked to choose between his then-new Galatasaray teammate Leroy Sané and Yamal.
“Who is Lamine Yamal? I don’t know him. I know Sané,” Lemina replied at the time.
More than a year later, Yamal’s performance in Istanbul gave the young Barcelona star the perfect opportunity to revive the exchange.
Yamal Responds on the Pitch
Barcelona faced an early setback when Alexey Batrakov gave Galatasaray the lead in the 28th minute. However, João Cancelo equalised shortly before half-time, setting the stage for Barcelona’s second-half comeback.
Yamal then became central to the visitors’ attacking performance, producing two assists in quick succession to help turn the match decisively in Barcelona’s favour.
In the 50th minute, the teenager delivered a precise cross for Fermín López to head home and put Barcelona ahead.
Three minutes later, Yamal produced another moment of quality. He beat his marker with an impressive piece of skill, which was later described by the player as an “almost rabona”, before setting up Anthony Gordon to extend Barcelona’s advantage to 3-1.
Karim Adeyemi subsequently added a fourth goal to complete the 4-1 victory.
Yamal finished the match with six key passes and earned the Player of the Match award for his influential performance.
How Lemina’s 2025 Comments Resurfaced
The exchange between Yamal and Lemina began in August 2025, when the Galatasaray midfielder appeared to dismiss the Barcelona youngster while expressing his preference for Sané.
Although the remark circulated widely online, Lemina later clarified that he intended it as light-hearted banter rather than a serious act of disrespect.
The comments resurfaced on social media ahead of the Champions League meeting between the two clubs, with Barcelona supporters highlighting the earlier exchange.
Yamal’s Instagram caption brought the story full circle after he delivered a decisive performance against Lemina’s team.
The teenager was also asked about the episode by reporters after the final whistle. He reportedly responded with a smile before walking away, leaving his social media post to deliver the public punchline.
Fermín López Joins the Banter
Yamal’s post also attracted a playful response from teammate Fermín López, who replied with a message along the lines of: “I think he knows you.”
The exchange added another layer of humour to Barcelona’s celebrations after a convincing European away victory.
Rather than engaging in a prolonged public dispute, Yamal appeared to let his performance and the result speak for themselves.
His two assists helped Barcelona recover from an early deficit, while the Player of the Match award further underlined his influence on the contest.
Barcelona’s Perfect Start Continues
The victory extended Barcelona’s winning start to the season to 10 matches across all competitions, according to the supplied report, and lifted the Catalan club to the top of the Champions League league-phase table.
Yamal has continued to establish himself as one of Europe’s most influential young attackers, combining creativity, close control and an ability to produce decisive moments in high-pressure matches.
His contribution in Istanbul was particularly important as Barcelona turned a difficult opening into a commanding victory.
For Lemina, the earlier comments may have been intended as harmless banter, but Yamal’s performance ensured the exchange returned to the spotlight.
Barcelona will take confidence from another impressive European result, while Yamal can celebrate both a standout individual display and a memorable response to a remark that followed him into the fixture.
Esther Afriyie Kumah is the Digital Media & Operations Manager and a writer AL Media Sports, the sports division of AL Media Group. She specializes in sports journalism, content and video production, covering Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and African football with in-depth match reports, tactical analysis, player ratings, and expert insights.