Spanish teenage soccer sensation Lamine Yamal has added to his endorsement portfolio by signing a deal with Apple-owned headphones brand Beats by Dre.
Having burst onto the scene at just 15, Yamal has already played 100 games for Barcelona and established himself as one of the brightest talents in the game. His rise also saw him ranked 41st in SportsPro’s annual list of the world’s 50 Most Marketable Athletes (50MM), making him the world’s most marketable teenager.
Given his impact for both club and country at such a young age, Yamal has drawn comparisons to another Barcelona great, Lionel Messi. While Yamal has tried to downplay parallels with the Argentinian legend, the similarities – both on and off the pitch – are striking.
Both became stars for the same club as teenagers and play in similar positions, while their endorsement portfolios overlap, thanks to deals with Adidas and now Beats. The connection between the two was further highlighted when photos resurfaced of Messi holding Yamal as a baby.
Yamal may not reach the heights of Messi – perhaps no soccer player ever will – but his deal with Beats reaffirms his status as one of sport’s most commercially appealing young stars.
For Beats, the signing strengthens an athlete roster that already includes Messi and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, as well as basketball icon LeBron James and Chinese tennis ace Qinwen Zheng.
“I love music for many reasons: it helps me focus before a match, it also helps me relax, and it’s an escape into a world of fun,” said Yamal. “For me, Beats is a cool, stylish brand that connects with my personality. I’m really happy to be working with them.”
Chris Thorne, chief marketing officer and head of product at Beats, added: “Having Lamine as part of the Beats family is a huge honour. Lamine creates magic on the pitch and we know that music is another huge passion for him. We wanted to storytell around his love of music and allow his fun and infectious personality to shine through.”
SportsProMedia
