Sheila Ebana, mother of Lamine Yamal, appeared as a guest of honor at a Christmas gala in London, sparking curiosity about the woman behind one of football’s brightest young stars.

At 8:30 PM on November 7, Sheila attended the elegant event at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, just a few steps from Tower Bridge. The 35-year-old, born in Equatorial Guinea and mother of Yamal, was the centerpiece of the Christmas Sports Dinner Gala Party.

                          Sheila Ebana at the Christmas Gala in London on November 7

The event was organized by Jen C Events, with VIP tickets priced up to $940, including luxury dining tables, unlimited drinks, and the opportunity to take photos with Sheila — introduced in the invitation as “the mother of the world’s best player.”

Sheila entered the hall wearing a long black dress with a multi-colored layered collar. She smiled, shook hands, and posed for photos on the red carpet, appearing both modest and elegant. This was Sheila’s first visit to “Londres” — the Spanish way she refers to London — and a short trip: she flew in for the event and immediately returned to Barcelona to watch her son play for Barça against Celta Vigo in La Liga’s Round 12 that weekend.

Despite posting only 19 photos, Sheila has over 366,000 followers on Instagram. In contrast to her ex-husband Mounir Nasraoui, a loud and often controversial figure, Sheila leads a discreet life. She rarely gives interviews and has turned down hundreds of requests from Spanish media.

                   Behind the Brightest Young Star in World Football: Sheila Ebana in London

However, at the party, when the music began, Sheila joined the crowd, leading a line of dancers around the ballroom — a rare sight that contrasted with the image of Barça’s “Golden Boy”’s quiet mother.

“I’m very happy to be here and incredibly proud of my son,” Sheila told the UK’s Sportmail briefly. “We’re both very joyful about it.”

After a few words of thanks in Spanish, Sheila said nothing further about Yamal, staying true to her characteristically discreet style.

Her appearance at the gala was no coincidence. The idea came from Benjamin Zarandona, former Real Betis player and former Equatorial Guinea international, who acted as the intermediary connecting Sheila with Jennifer Crook, founder of Jen C Events.

Jennifer explained that the goal of the event was “to honor inspiring women of color” while raising funds for community projects. “We wanted a vibrant night where people could have fun, dance, and connect,” she said.

Originally, the dinner was planned at Nobu in Portman Square, but it was later moved to the Leonardo Royal Hotel to accommodate a larger space. About 100 guests attended, mostly friends and partners of the organizers — many of whom didn’t even know who Sheila was until the program began.

“Don’t miss the chance to meet the mother of the world’s best player,” read the invitation. In reality, very few approached Sheila for conversation, partly because her English was limited and partly because she preferred not to talk much about her son.

According to Sport Mail, the party captured true “luxurious London” vibes — a three-course dinner, champagne, DJs, singers, and dancers wearing giant feathered hats. Tables were named after iconic London locations such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Covent Garden. On stage, Sheila spoke only briefly before presenting an award to the Minds United team — a sports project supporting mental health — accompanied by congratulatory messages via video from midfielder Eberechi Eze.

Lamine Yamal and His Mother Sheila Ebana at the 2025 Ballon d’Or Ceremony.

Sheila once worked as a waitress before her son entered La Masia. She raised Yamal, born in 2007 in Mataró, Spain, following her divorce from Mr. Nasraoui.

In a September interview, Yamal emotionally spoke about his mother: “When I was little, my mom couldn’t be with me much because she was busy working, but every night she came home to cook for me. I bought her a house in a place she chose. She is my queen, and I only want her to be happy.”

Through her quiet sacrifices, Sheila has become a symbol of resilience. Even now, while invited to glamorous events, she maintains a simple lifestyle, staying away from the media spotlight and letting her son shine on the pitch with his talent.