Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal’s family has been making headlines for more than just the teenager’s rise in football. His father, Mounir Nasraoui, has shocked fans with his recent engagement to Khristina, a 23-year-old woman who is only five years older than his 18-year-old son. Despite the 12-year age gap causing a stir, Nasraoui and Khristina seem unfazed by the criticism, announcing their engagement this week in a post on social media that featured a picture of the couple, with Nasraoui adding a black heart and a ring emoji, hinting at their upcoming wedding.

Nasraoui, who boasts 1.3 million followers on Instagram, has kept his relationship with Khristina relatively private but has shared several photos of the two together. While his personal life has garnered attention, his son’s romantic life has also been a hot topic. Lamine Yamal recently ended his relationship with Argentinian singer Nikki Nicole, who is 25—older than Nasraoui’s fiancée. The breakup, which was made public by Spanish journalist Javier de Hoyos, has led to rumors about infidelity, though Yamal swiftly denied this. The young footballer clarified that the split had nothing to do with cheating and was simply the end of their relationship.

This news about Yamal’s split comes on the back of a troubling chapter for his father, Nasraoui, who was tragically attacked in August. While walking his dog in Mataro, a town near Barcelona, Nasraoui was stabbed multiple times following an altercation. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the attack, and Nasraoui was left in critical condition, having narrowly survived what he described as a near-death experience. Reflecting on the incident, he stated in an interview that the ordeal had left him shaken but grateful for his recovery. “I was afraid, I saw myself between life and death,” he said.

While Nasraoui has been focused on recovering and moving forward, his pride for his son’s achievements continues to shine. In September, Nasraoui attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where he boldly proclaimed that his son, Lamine Yamal, is the best player in the world, even after Yamal missed out on winning the prestigious award. Nasraoui’s belief in his son’s potential is unwavering, and he confidently stated that Lamine would be the Ballon d’Or winner the following year, declaring “next year, he’ll be ours.” Yamal’s talents on the field have already earned him a Kopa Trophy for Young Player of the Year, and his father’s unshakeable confidence in his future seems to know no bounds.

As Yamal continues to grow in stature, both on and off the field, his family remains in the spotlight. The twists in their lives—from Nasraoui’s shocking engagement to Yamal’s breakup—have kept fans and the media intrigued. How will these personal dramas affect the young footballer’s career? Will Nasraoui’s predictions about his son’s future come true? With so much attention on their every move, the next chapter in the Yamal family’s story is sure to captivate even more.