Barcelona Star Shrugs Off Lamine Yamal Party Drama: 'Nothing Out of the Ordinary'

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí has come to the defense of Lamine Yamal amid ongoing debate surrounding his 18th birthday celebration.

Yamal faced potential legal consequences for reportedly employing individuals with dwarfism for entertainment purposes—a violation of Spanish legislation. Nevertheless, club president Joan Laporta expressed no concerns, stating his sole disappointment was missing the celebration entirely.

Many of Yamal's Barcelona colleagues were present at his celebration, including fellow 18-year-old and longtime La Masia academy partner Cubarsí, who quickly minimized the entire matter.

"You [journalists] discussed Lamine Yamal's birthday celebration far more than we did in our locker room," Cubarsí shared with Cadena SER. "We considered it ordinary and we were present to commemorate the young man's milestone, so we felt joy for him. I maintained a more reserved approach, wearing formal attire and staying composed."

Recently, a street art piece featuring Yamal was defaced with imagery of the seven dwarfs from the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs film—seemingly referencing the celebration dispute—though the original creator has since repaired it.

Barcelona's preseason activities commenced on July 13, mere hours following Yamal's festivities. All Barça squad members, including party attendees, started their 2025–26 campaign preparations without any disruption.

Cubarsí continued by discussing Yamal's abilities during matches, stating that defending against him during practice sessions proves more challenging than completing "La Selectividad", the examination he completed to graduate secondary school and gain eligibility for university admission.

Both Yamal and Cubarsi have emerged as essential components in Hansi Flick's Barcelona squad despite their youth. The duo represents two of the most recent standouts to emerge from La Masia and are currently considered among the globe's most promising talents in their individual roles.