Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Albacete at the Carlos Belmonte stadium in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on February 3, 2026.
The win ended Albacete’s giant-killing run that had earlier claimed Real Madrid.
Though Barcelona controlled proceedings, a late goal from Javi Moreno added tension before strikes from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo sealed progression to the semifinals, where Atletico Madrid awaits in a two-legged tie starting February 11-12.
Lamine Yamal stole the show with a sublime curled finish in the 39th minute from Frenkie de Jong’s pass.
The 18-year-old terrorized Albacete’s right flank all night, earning 9/10 ratings across multiple outlets for his dribbling, creativity, and composure under pressure.
But it’s what happened after the match that set social media ablaze.
A video surfaced showing Lamine Yamal and teammate Roony Bardghji practicing the iconic Naruto tiger hand seal, a fundamental technique from the legendary anime series.
The clip, filmed on the team plane with Lamine wearing his Supercopa champions shirt, captures the duo earnestly attempting the gesture amid fits of laughter from Fermin Lopez and Jules Kounde.
What Is the Tiger Hand Seal?
Naruto, which ran from 1999 to 2017 (with sequel series Boruto continuing), remains one of anime’s most beloved franchises globally, with over 250 million manga copies sold.
Its themes of never giving up and protecting teammates resonate deeply with athletes, making it a natural fit for football celebrations.
In Naruto, hand seals (or hand signs) are symbolic gestures ninjas use to mold and control their chakra before performing jutsu (techniques).
The tiger seal is one of twelve basic signs, formed by interlocking your fingers with thumbs raised and parallel.
Index and middle fingers extend upward while the remaining fingers interlock at the knuckles.
It’s associated with fire-based techniques and intense concentration, making it a popular choice for dramatic moments in the series.
Anime celebrations in Football
Naruto celebrations have become increasingly common in football with Dominic Solanke leading the charge.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker has become synonymous with his anime tributes which include Monkey D. Luffy’s Gear 5 from One Piece, Madara’s hand signs and Susanoo summon from Naruto, Attack on Titan salutes, Jujutsu Kaisen nods, and even Chainsaw Man-inspired moments.
Both Yamal and Bardghji are outspoken anime fans. Bardghji has previously used Chidori-inspired poses, another Naruto reference involving lightning-style jutsu, in his celebrations.
The question now: will we see the tiger seal at Camp Nou when Barcelona take on Mallorca in LaLiga today? If Lamine finds the net, football and anime worlds might collide in the most spectacular way.
🎥 | Lamine Yamal learns the Naruto tiger hand sign with Roony Bardghji, Jules Koundé and Fermín López. 😂 🥷💙pic.twitter.com/4pYTILW9PB
— Access Yamal (@AccessYamal) February 5, 2026
