(Football news) Without a doubt, ELCLASICO is one of the most heated rivalries in world football. The fanbases of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona rarely see eye to eye, but every now and then a player comes along who is so respected that even the opposition supporters can’t help but appreciate their talent.
Lamine Yamal is the latest player to form part of the select group of FC Barcelona stars who have been treated to a standing ovation while playing at the Bernabéu. His story and the others are detailed below.
Lamine Yamal: Congratulated for his wonderful performance against Brazil
In the recent March international break, Spain took on Brazil in a very entertaining friendly, a match which finished as a 3-3 draw. Lamine Yamal made his sixth appearance for Spain’s senior side in that game and put on a show, tormenting the Brazilian defenders, assisting a Dani Olmo goal and winning a penalty for a Rodri goal.
When he was substituted off in stoppage time, Lamine Yamal received a standing ovation from the crowd. Although it’s true that this was a match of Spain and not Real Madrid, most of the fans’ club loyalties would have been with Los Blancos rather than Los Azulgranas. He was clearly delighted and received more praise afterwards from Spain boss Luis de la Fuente. “It was a truly brilliant performance,” the coach stated.
Ronaldinho: The night the Bernabéu couldn’t help but applaud greatness
One of the most famous ELCLASICO performances of the 21st century is Ronaldinho’s master class against Real Madrid in a 3-0 victory at the Bernabéu in 2005. He scored two of Barça’s goals that evening, both of them after unstoppable dribbles down the left flank, before finishing past Iker Casillas.
Ronaldinho was at the peak of his powers and would go on to win the Ballon d’Or just a few days later. Aware that they were watching the best player in the world at that time, several Madridistas stood up after the third goal and put their hands together. They were sad to see their team losing, but understood they were witnessing something special.
Later, reflecting on that moment, Ronaldinho said: “That day was special for me. Few players have experienced that felling, for the fans of your biggest rival to applaud you in ELCLASICO. Few have had that happiness.”
Andrés Iniesta: The Bernabéu’s tribute to Spain’s World Cup hero
Few players have received the honour of being applauded in their biggest rivals’ home, yet Andrés Iniesta is one of them. As the man who scored the winning goal for Spain in extra time of the 2010 World Cup final, the midfielder is responsible for one of the most joyous moments ever witnessed in Spain’s capital. As such, it’s understandable that Iniesta would be applauded even by Real Madrid fans.
That said, the rivalry of ELCLASICO was especially hot in 2010 and it wasn’t until 2015 that Iniesta was truly given an ovation by the full stadium. When Iniesta was substituted off after scoring in a 4-0 FC Barcelona victory in 2015, the Real Madrid fans in the crowd applauded the Spaniard for his greatness and for his contribution to Spanish football history.
Explaining the gesture after the game, Luis Enrique, the FC Barcelona coach at the time, said: “Andrés Iniesta is world heritage, not just Barça heritage. He is unique. I understand why they applauded him.”
Diego Maradona: A dribble and an ovation in the Copa de la Liga
To be applauded by a rival fanbase, you have to be a special player. And, few were as special as Diego Maradona. During the Argentine forward’s years with FC Barcelona, he too was applauded by the Bernabéu faithful, in his case during a 1983 match in the short-lived Copa de la Liga, which used to exist in Spain.
After dribbling past goalkeeper Agustín and around defender Juan José on the goal line, Maradona put the ball in the back of the net and some sectors of the stadium put their hands together in admiration of this extraordinary footballer. Years later, they’d do so again for some of the other great talents of world football.
