Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has offered a glimpse into how he views football, saying his motivation is the enjoyment of the game rather than money or personal statistics.
Yamal made the comments during an interview with The Guardian on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
“I don’t play football for money, I play because I like it.”
What prompted the comment?
The 19-year-old was discussing the pressure surrounding modern footballers, particularly the growing focus on goals, assists and individual statistics.
Rather than treating those figures as his main motivation, Yamal said he did not want to become obsessed with personal numbers.
For him, the pleasure comes from being creative and helping teammates. That does not mean he is rejecting professional football’s financial rewards.
His statement was about motivation, not a declaration that money has no place in the professional game.
Why the comment matters
Yamal has emerged in an era in which footballers are constantly measured through statistics, social-media engagement, transfer values and commercial deals.
His comment offers a different description of what motivates him: enjoyment, creativity and contribution to the team. It also provides context for understanding why he has repeatedly spoken about taking risks and expressing himself on the pitch.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Yamal’s comments were made during a Guardian interview, rather than during a Barcelona press conference or a social-media post.
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