The dressing room hums: steam from the steamer, the measured click of the shutter, assistants whispering about the jacket’s fit. Lamine Yamal sits calmly by the mirror, adjusts his cuff, and smiles — the same easy, youthful smile the stands across Europe already recognize. He has just wrapped a shoot for the French GQ and speaks readily about how he feels in clothes, why he rarely yields to stylists, and why a footballer should care about fashion at all.
"Style Is a Continuation of Dribbling"
The conversation begins with a simple question — why does he need all this? "Because it is a language, too," Lamine says. "On the pitch I attack, I take risks, I look for the unconventional. In clothing it’s the same: I add a detail that makes the look mine." On the right flank he’s used to taking on his man one-on-one; when it comes to his wardrobe, he takes responsibility for the choice. Sometimes he argues with stylists, but he does it calmly: "If a piece isn’t about me, I feel it right away. I look for a way to stay myself."
Comfort as a Principle
The set loves striking ideas, but Yamal won’t sacrifice basic sensations. "I won’t wear anything that feels tight — not in training and not on a shoot," he smiles. It sounds mature: ninety minutes under pressing teach you to value freedom of movement. In a match he lives in the rhythm of bursts and changes of tempo; off camera he chooses fabrics that don’t restrict and a fit that lets him breathe.
How the Camera Captures Growing Up
In the lens the young winger changes: gestures become sharper, the gaze more focused. He admits the first shoots were tougher; now he treats them like an additional training session — not technical, but internal. "I’m learning to relax under the flashes, to hold my posture, to work with my face," Lamine says. "It’s a different kind of discipline, but still part of my profession." On the pitch he plays with a left-footed curl and sharp bursts of pace; in the studio he "plays" with the jacket’s lines and a clean silhouette.
The Frames That Went Viral: Who Was Behind the Photos
These images for GQ France were shot by Italian photographer Alan Gelati, an author fond of hard light and graphic composition. On set Yamal tried on a classic tuxedo, and the series itself turned out laconic and dynamic: minimal decor, maximum character. The credits confirm it: the shoot for the French GQ is Gelati’s work, with Dolce & Gabbana featured in the looks.
The Balance Between Football and Fashion
We return to the main thing — the pitch. For Yamal, style isn’t about distraction; it’s about balance. "When you’re confident off the pitch, it’s easier to make decisions in the box," he says. "You spot the pass faster, you go into the dribble more freely." And this isn’t a pose: his football has long been about boldness — early debuts, records, responsibility on the right wing. Fashion merely highlights what is already there: a taste for risk and a feel for the moment.
A Personal Rule
Finally, Lamine puts it briefly: "Every player has a signature move. I follow the same logic in style — no needless noise, but enough for you to know it’s mine." That’s the answer to the main question of the shooting day: standing out for attention’s sake is easy; standing out while staying yourself is true mastery. And he’s already doing it — on the grass and in the frame.
