Controversial Paid Dinner with Mother of Rising Football Star Lamine Yamal Sparks Debate in London

A London event agency recently promoted a private birthday dinner featuring Sheila Ibana, the mother of rising Barcelona football star Lamine Yamal, as the evening's "guest of honor."

The event took place at a hotel in the British capital, offering attendees a chance to meet Sheila and take photos with her. According to the "Daily Mail," the VIP package was priced at £313 (around €350) and included a premium table seat, unlimited drinks, and photo opportunities with Sheila.

Sheila, originally from Equatorial Guinea, typically prefers to remain out of the spotlight, unlike her son’s father, Munir Nasraoui, who has gained a significant online presence with over 360,000 Instagram followers since Lamine's rise to fame.

Interestingly, Sheila avoided discussing her son's career during the event, deflecting multiple inquiries about Yamal, who recently finished second in the Ballon d'Or rankings. This raised questions about her motivations for participating in a paid event, especially considering Lamine's reported weekly earnings of £270,000 at Barcelona.

The dinner has sparked widespread discussion in European sports media regarding the commercialization of family fame and the blurred lines between the public personas of athletes and their private lives.