Yamal Reveals Admiration for Real Madrid Icon: "I Bandaged My Hand, and They Called Me KB9"

Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal recently revealed the surprising reason behind the bandage on his hand in a personal YouTube video. The young star confessed his admiration for a Real Madrid legend: Karim Benzema. Yamal's explanation quickly caught the attention of fans, especially those of the Merengues.

In a video sharing insights into his daily life, routines, and training, the Catalan number 10 explained the origin of his distinctive habit: "I bandage my hand because, while playing PlayStation, I punched the TV, and my fingers swelled up. From then on, I started wearing the bandage, and it looked really cool, just like Karim Benzema. That's where the 'KB9' nickname came from."

Despite currently recovering from an injury, Yamal has been included in Spain's final squad for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place this summer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, from June 11 to July 18.

The young winger has been sidelined since April 22, after suffering a tear in the femoral biceps of his left leg. Initial forecasts suggested a four to five-week recovery period, but his rehabilitation may have encountered setbacks. Alongside Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, Yamal remains one of the key doubts for Spain's opening World Cup matches. The Spanish national team is scheduled to face Cape Verde (June 15), Saudi Arabia (June 21), and Uruguay (June 27).

Unlike Yamal, who wears the bandage for style, Karim Benzema began using his out of necessity in 2019. Following a match against Real Betis, the French forward sustained a finger injury but opted for conservative treatment over surgery, which would have kept him off the pitch for at least two months.

From that point on, the Frenchman's career saw a remarkable improvement, as he stepped into the role of Cristiano Ronaldo's successor. In terms of goals, the Portuguese star leads Real Madrid's all-time scoring list with 451 goals in 438 games, while Benzema ranks second with 354 goals in 648 appearances.