Lamine Yamal's home in Barcelona was the target of a burglary attempt early Wednesday morning, hours after the player helped secure Spain's victory over France in the World Cup semi-final. Police in Catalonia have opened an investigation into the incident.
Two individuals were observed attempting to scale the walls of the mansion, located in the Esplugues de Llobregat suburb. Yamal's private security team reportedly thwarted the break-in by spotting the intruders. The incident is said to have occurred around 4 a.m. local time.
The Criminal Investigation Division is now examining CCTV footage from the property. The mansion, which reportedly cost Yamal £9.5 million, was previously owned by former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and pop star Shakira.
The property spans 3,800 square feet and includes amenities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a tennis court, and a home recording studio. Yamal has previously shared images of the residence on social media.
This attempted burglary follows a pattern of football players being targeted while away from their homes. Yamal's teammates, goalkeeper Joan Garcia and defender Pau Cubarsi, have also been victims of break-ins this year. Garcia's home was burgled while he was competing in Saudi Arabia, and a watch was stolen from Cubarsi's residence while he was training.
Criminals are believed to sometimes target the homes of professional athletes when they are away for tournaments. Other high-profile players, including Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling, have experienced significant thefts from their homes in recent years. Sterling was notably forced to return home from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to a robbery.
The incident casts a shadow over Yamal's recent success on the field. Spain is set to play in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday against the winner of the semi-final match between England and Argentina.