FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal said on Apr. 14 that he is taking inspiration from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as his team prepares for a crucial Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid. Barcelona needs to overcome a two-goal deficit in the second leg, and Yamal referenced James’ famous comeback in the NBA Finals as motivation.
Yamal, who became widely known after helping Spain win the UEFA Euro Championship at just 16 years old, faces a significant challenge with his club needing to win by three goals or more to advance. In a news conference on Monday, Yamal explained his mindset going into the match: “LeBron is one of the references that is inspiring me for the game,” he said. “I put it as my photo for that reason. I am thinking about how he did it [in 2016] and hoping for the same result for us.”
James led the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors in 2016, an event that occurred when Yamal was eight years old and left a lasting impression on him. The connection between sports figures across different disciplines highlights how moments of perseverance can inspire athletes worldwide.
Meanwhile, Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently praised James for his performance during the 2025-26 NBA season. Redick described James’ contributions as remarkable given his age and experience: “He had, not a good season, not a great, he had a remarkable season all things considered. You take away the fact that he’s in his 23rd year and he’s 41 years old, he had a remarkable season. The fact that those things are real, and they’re very real in terms of the day-to-day management, it’s unbelievable what he did this year.”
As Barcelona prepares to face Atletico Madrid at noon Pacific Time on Tuesday, fans will watch closely to see if Yamal can emulate James’ resilience and lead another dramatic comeback.
