Spain’s triumphant World Cup homecoming in Madrid produced an unexpected sideshow, as jubilant fans publicly called for a boxing-style clash between Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and Spanish star Gavi – and secured a cheeky response from Lamine Yamal.
The world champions paraded the trophy through the capital on Monday, a day after beating Argentina 1-0 to clinch a second World Cup title. Tens of thousands of supporters lined the streets on the route to Plaza de Cibeles in a celebration that quickly moved beyond footballing glory to a moment that has gripped social media.
Viral banner aimed at Lamine Yamal
Among the flags and banners thrown towards the open-top La Roja team bus, one in particular caught the attention of players and cameras alike, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
The sign was hurled up directly towards Lamine Yamal on the top deck of the bus. On one side, it featured a photo of his younger brother Ken, who became something of a cult figure during the tournament after images of his exuberant celebrations in the stands were widely shared online.
While the family tribute won admiration, it was the reverse side of the banner that triggered laughter among many of the Spain players and quickly went viral.
It read: “La Velada del Ano 7. Paredes vs Gavi.”
The message was a direct reference to “La Velada del Ano” (The Night of the Year), the hugely popular boxing and combat-sport event hosted by Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, which pits celebrities and online personalities from different fields against each other in exhibition bouts.
‘See you there’: Lamine Yamal’s public reply
Lamine Yamal, one of the breakout stars of Spain’s World Cup win, spotted the banner and read the message. His answer, reported by Marca, was brief but suggestive.
“I’ll see you there,” he replied.
The off-the-cuff comment further fuelled online chatter about a potential exhibition fight between Barcelona midfielder Gavi and Argentina’s Paredes, although there is no indication such a bout is anything more than a fan-driven fantasy.
Fans target Paredes after ill-tempered final
Marca noted that the call-out was aimed at Gavi and Leandro Paredes, one of the Argentina players who committed the most fouls in the final and who has been labelled by some Spanish supporters as one of the “hardest” – and most aggressive – opponents in the match.
Tensions between the sides had already flared during Sunday’s decider. In one heated incident, Paredes clashed with Spain defender Eric Garcia. Gavi stepped in to defend his team-mate, prompting the Argentine to lash out at the Barcelona midfielder as well.
The altercation, which occurred around the final whistle, has lingered in the memories of Spanish fans, turning Paredes into a pantomime villain of the final and inspiring the tongue‐in‐cheek demand for a boxing rematch under Ibai Llanos’s lights.
Street party with a modern twist
The Cibeles celebration underscored how modern football culture now blends traditional street parties with online fandom and influencer events.
While the focus of the day was Spain’s historic second world title and the raucous welcome in the capital, the banner aimed at Lamine Yamal and his playful response highlighted how quickly moments from the pitch can spill over into crossover spectacles involving streaming stars, celebrity boxing and viral memes.
For Spain’s players, it was a day of open-top euphoria and a measure of catharsis after a bruising final. For fans, it was not just about celebrating a trophy, but also about rewriting the narrative with a humorous twist – turning one of the most combative figures of the match, Leandro Paredes, into the imagined opponent in a new kind of showdown against Gavi.
