A Superman-themed artwork depicting Barcelona footballer Lamine Yamal has been defaced in Plaza Joanic, with vandals adding imagery of the Seven Dwarfs from Snow White.
The mural, created to mark the player's 18th birthday, features Yamal as the superhero with an 'L' emblazoned on his chest.
The vandalism appears to reference controversy surrounding the footballer's birthday celebration in July, where individuals with dwarfism were allegedly hired to attend the event.
The 18-year-old's birthday gathering last month drew widespread condemnation after reports emerged that individuals with achondroplasia and women meeting particular physical criteria were compensated to attend.
Lamine Yamal received a lot of backlash for his choice of birthday celebration | GettyApproximately 200 guests attended the Mafia-themed celebration at a private venue on July 13, including the player's relatives, friends and Barcelona colleagues.
Journalist Edu Polo confirmed the damage, posting: "Some 'joker' has destroyed Lamine Yamal's mural in Joanic This time it's not fake or an AI montage. I just took the photo."
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Images circulated showing five men with dwarfism apparently registering for the event, alongside photographs of women arriving at the location. Critics accused the footballer of exploiting individuals with disabilities for entertainment purposes.
The controversy intensified when allegations surfaced that event planners had sought to recruit a dozen blonde women based on specific physical measurements, with compensation reportedly reaching €20,000 for round-the-clock attendance.
Government disability officials have demanded an inquiry into the footballer's celebration, with Jesus Martin, General Director of Disability, urging ministerial action. Martin expressed alarm that wealthy individuals might consider themselves above the law.
A video is circulated online of dwarves entering Lamine Yamal's birthday celebrations
| X"We are concerned that people with money, people with power, believe themselves to be unpunished. The law is for everyone, for the humble and for the powerful," Martin told Marca.
He voiced particular worry about the potential influence on impressionable supporters who admire Yamal. Martin feared such behaviour could inspire young fans to emulate these actions.
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The official's intervention highlights growing unease about the treatment of people with disabilities at high-profile events.
Spanish model Calvo, who held the titles of Miss Teenager Spain 2021 and Miss Teenager Europe 2022, has alleged she was approached to participate in the controversial celebration. She claims event coordinators were recruiting blonde women based on specific physical measurements.
According to Calvo, participants would receive between €10,000 and €20,000 but were required to remain available for a full day without knowing the venue beforehand. She told Tardear TV: "I have screenshots of everything, the conversations, they told me that the fee would be a certain amount between 10,000 and 20,000 euros."
The model stated she withdrew from the arrangement after learning the requirements, claiming organisers were seeking "models or escorts" for the event.