Fermín López reveals the Lamine Yamal gesture that never got its celebration at the World Cup

Some gestures move you even when they never actually happen. This is one of those cases: Lamine Yamal had a shirt ready dedicated to Fermín López to celebrate a goal during the World Cup, the same tournament the Barcelona midfielder missed through injury. In the end there was no goal to celebrate with that shirt, but the detail came to light thanks to Fermín himself.

Fermín, who was without question the most painful absence from the 26 man squad that Spain used to win their second star, told the story in an interview with Mundo Deportivo. He did it with the ease of someone still touched by a teammate's affection.

I know that one day, one game, he had a shirt ready for me in case he scored, but he couldn't score. The gesture is there, his photographer told me about it, and it's a really nice detail that never got to happenFermín López

The plan never came together because Lamine didn't manage to score in that match, but the gesture stood as one more sign of a friendship that goes beyond what happens on the field.

Lamine's "favorite"

That connection between the two isn't just a locker room thing. A few days ago, when Lamine was asked which teammate he clicks with best on the pitch, he didn't hesitate to name Fermín. And naturally, the answer reached the man himself.

I saw it. Hearing Lamine say those words about me makes me really happy because at the end of the day he's a very important player for us. He's a friend, and I try to make things easier for him and also take advantage of the fact that he draws a lot of players toward him, so I try to exploit the spaceFermín López

Fermín went further and explained how he sees that on-field partnership: he looks to get the ball to Lamine, to let him feel comfortable, and believes that's why they understand each other "very well" on the pitch.

His Ballon d'Or vote

The interview also made room to talk about the Ballon d'Or, set to be handed out on October 26 in London. Asked who should win it, Fermín didn't hold back: "Obviously" it should be Lamine.

The midfielder backed up his pick with arguments he sees up close every day: "I see him every day and he's spectacular, he's had an incredible year at Barça. At the World Cup maybe he couldn't show his best version because he was also coming back from injury, but in the end he won it and he deserves it."

Still, Fermín didn't want to leave out other Spaniards who could also be in the running for the award. He pointed out that Pedri isn't even nominated, that Raphinha isn't either, and that Pau Cubarsí has had a great year. But if he has to pick one name, it's Lamine Yamal.