Lamine Yamal has repeated a mistake that cost Andrés Iniesta dearly in the past — the cursed penalty kick that refuses to go in.
The young Barcelona star missed a penalty in the 103rd minute of extra time during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, 8 January 2026. His shot struck the crossbar and stayed out, keeping the score at 0-0 before the match went to a penalty shootout, which Barcelona eventually lost.
This was not the first time a Barcelona player has suffered from this particular curse. Iniesta himself missed a similar penalty in the 2012 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. Back then, the kick was also taken in the dying moments of extra time, and it also hit the crossbar. That miss cost Barcelona a place in the final.
The coincidence is striking. Both players were wearing the Barcelona shirt. Both penalties came in the 103rd minute of extra time. Both shots hit the crossbar. And both misses had major consequences for the team.
Yamal, who is only 18 years old, looked devastated after the miss. He was consoled by his teammates, but the damage was done. Barcelona had dominated possession for long stretches but could not find a way past Athletic Bilbao’s defence.
The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, and Athletic Bilbao won 4-2 on penalties. Barcelona now exit the Super Cup without a trophy, while their opponents advance to the final.
For Yamal, the lesson is a harsh one. Iniesta never fully escaped the memory of that miss against Chelsea, and now the young winger has his own painful reminder of how cruel football can be from 12 yards.
