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Lamine Yamalisn’t the only family member who mesmerizes audiences globally.

A 19-year-old Spanish striker’s three-year-old half-brother Keyne has become a standout figure at the World Cup and once again gained widespread attention on Sunday after his post-match celebration following the 1-0 win against Argentina in the final.

Wearing a replica Spain jersey featuring his brother’s No. 19 and his own first name on the back, Keyne sprinted onto the field at MetLife Stadium, immediately running into his older brother’s embrace.

Yamal eagerly embraced Keyne and swiftly lifted his younger brother into the air before carefully setting him back on the ground and placing a red ‘Lamine’ baseball cap on the toddler’s head.

And that was not the only hat Keyne wore while wandering the MetLife field on Sunday. ANew JerseyThe state trooper couldn’t resist taking off his hat to briefly show it to Keyne, who tried it on before kindly handing it back to the officer.

For Keyne, it marked one of the last moments of a notable World Cup journey that featured multiple appearances on stadium scoreboards, along with numerous wire photos that were shared by media outlets globally. Keyne even found the net during pre-game warmups against his brother’s teammate, Nico Williams.

This time, the main highlight of the competition isn’t an athlete, the goals, or even the trophy,” was how Hola! — Spain’s version of Hello! magazine — described it earlier this month. “It’s Keyne, the three-year-old brother of Lamine Yamal, who is causing a stir in the tournament with his funny moments.

Measuring just a few feet in height, Keyne has quickly gained popularity online. The young child has captured the hearts of many during Spain’s campaign, winning the affection of fans around the globe.

In other parts of the media, he has been referred to as ‘the star of the 2026 World Cup,’ ‘Spain’s superstar in the audience,’ and ‘the most adored figure of the competition.’

Keyne’s fame soared to a high point following Spain’s quarter-final win against Belgium, as television cameras captured the three-year-old waving and grinning at his brother from the audience.

On the field, Yamal couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Keyne sticking his tongue out on the massive stadium screens. Photos of the young player’s playful behavior quickly spread across social media.

After the game, Yamal told reporters that his brother had advised him about his intentions the previous day, adding to the humor of the situation.

I was at physio and he called me, using my mom’s phone, and said he was going to stick his tongue out tomorrow,” the conservative explained. “That’s why when I saw him on the screen, it really made me laugh.

Born in September 2022, Keyne is the child of Yamal’s mother, Sheila Ebana. Despite not having the same father, the Barcelona player praised their relationship following his recognition as man of the match in Spain’s round-of-32 win last Thursday.

He stated, “I am touched when I witness my younger brother so joyful, along with seeing my mother and friends leading the life they always aspired to.”

My younger brother is the most important person in my life. I have deep feelings for him; it’s as if he were my own child.

For fans who have closely tracked Yamal’s ascent, Keyne’s involvement is not surprising. The athlete frequently posts videos of them performing TikTok dances together, and footage of the two playing with a soccer ball on the field during Barcelona’s La Liga championship celebrations last season also became popular.

There is video of Keyne singing the Barcelona anthem at home while chanting his brother’s name. He has been captured teasingly interacting with Barca’s large mascot, Cat, and spending time with Yamal’s close friend and teammate in the Spanish national team, Nico Williams, following a La Liga game between Barcelona and Athletic Club. Yamal recently posted a clip showing himself and his mother walking down the street, with Keyne driving a Mercedes electric toy car behind them.

When Yamal gave a tour of his old Barcelona apartment at the end of last year, he proudly displayed a small statue showing him sitting down and mentioned it was Keyne’s “favorite item in my home.” The figure alludes to the traditional Catalan caganer—usually concealed in Christmas scenes and shown relieving itself outside the stable—and Keyne seems particularly pleased that his older brother has his own version.

Yamal, who accompanied Keyne to the Ballon d’Or event, has previously expressed his desire to provide his younger brother with the childhood he himself did not have. The winger has turned his well-known ‘304’ celebration—referencing the postal code of Rocafonda, one of Catalonia’s most disadvantaged areas where he was raised—into a representation of his identity and a tribute to his origins.

My mother had me when she was 16 – that’s real pressure,” he said to Spanish radio station Cadena SER. “Then my father had to go out and earn a living, searching the streets for food to bring home. That’s pressure. All I need to do is play and keep the Spanish fans satisfied.

I originated from an apartment where the kitchen and bedroom were in the same space,” he mentioned during a podcast last year. “Therefore, I witness my mother’s joy, and I see that my brother can experience the kind of childhood I would have desired, and that is what brings me the most happiness.

Keyne is also a well-known figure on his mother’s Instagram account, featured in promotional posts, including a recent campaign for a sushi restaurant in Premià de Mar, a seaside town close to Barcelona.

“Sunday, sushi, and great company,” she posted on Instagram.

The oldest son of Ebana also has some notable photographs from his younger days, including one that was famously captured with the then-Barcelona player Lionel Messi in 2007.

Yamal’s parents, such as his father Mounir Nasraoui who was born in Morocco, participated in a draw organized by the Catalan newspaper Sport, where the winners had the opportunity to have their baby photographed with a Barcelona player.

Yamal’s family notably triumphed and was matched with Messi.

During the photoshoot, Messi bathed the five-month-old Yamal and then cradled him, wrapped in a towel.

That photo, it was wild,” Messi said on Friday. “Him as a baby, and now we’re facing each other. What a wild image.

Who knows, if the 39-year-old Messi manages to continue for a little longer, maybe he could eventually compete against the family’s other famous member, Keyne.

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