The mother of Barcelona’s winger, Lamine Yamal, appears to be leveraging her son’s rapid ascent to fame, as a sports events company is providing fans an opportunity to pay for a dinner with her.

At just 18, Yamal has swiftly become a prominent figure in football, thanks to his remarkable performances with both Barcelona and Spain.

Last season, the winger contributed to 43 goals across all competitions for the Catalan club, making him a popular contender for the Ballon d’Or award in Paris last month.

Yamal was accompanied by his mother, Sheila Ebana, at the awards ceremony held at the historic Theatre du Chatelet, but he ultimately finished behind PSG’s Ousmane Dembele for the top spot.

Despite the outcome in Paris, Ebana is poised to enjoy the benefits of Yamal’s achievements. Eventbrite, a live event marketplace, has announced her as the special guest for a Christmas gala in London next month.

“Prepare to mingle with Sheila Ebana – Lamine Yamal’s mother, whose son is among the world’s top footballers, at the ultimate JEN C Events Christmas celebration,” reads the event’s description.

Yamal’s mother regularly keeps quite a low profile, despite having over 350,000 followers, with his father, Mounir Nasraoui, better known to fans.

Previously, Ebana has been unable to attend big occasions with her star son, and last month, Yamal spoke on her quiet but nurturing nature.

He said: ‘My mother couldn’t be with me much because of work, but she always made me dinner when she came home at night.

‘I bought her a house wherever she chose; she’s my queen, she deserves everything, and that’s what I want most in this world.’

However, things seem to have changed in the past few weeks, with Ebana attending the Ballon d’Or ceremony, and now the announcement of the Jen C Events banquet in London that she will be attending.

The Christmas gala will take place on November 7, and you have to be 18 years old or older to attend. Tickets will set you back £130.72. 

If you decide to pay the ‘early bird discount’, then you will be welcomed with a glass of champagne upon arrival and can expect a three-course meal. If you fancy a bottle of wine thrown in, too, then you will have to pay £150. 

The most expensive ticket available comes in at a whopping £313.82. This is for the VIP experience and comes with unlimited drinks, while promising a photo opportunity.

However, despite being listed, the VIP experience is unavailable at the time of writing, with only the early bird tickets accessible.

The caption to an Instagram post promoting the event, which contains a video of Ebana in a black gown on a red carpet, states: ‘We are thrilled to announce that Early Bird Tickets are now on sale – and are selling fast! Secure yours today and be part of the excitement!

‘Link in our bio at the top, and our story to get your tickets. We can’t wait to see you soon.’

Yamal may not have won the Ballon d’Or last month, but he did get his hands on the Kopa Trophy for Young Player of the Year. However, his father dubbed the decision not to award the big prize to the winger ‘very strange’.

As he walked by Spanish media following the ceremony, Nasraoui confidently claimed ‘next year, he’ll be ours’ before speaking to reporters afterwards.

‘I wouldn’t say it was theft,’ he said, ‘but rather moral harm to a human being.

‘Because I believe Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world. By far, by far. Not because he’s my son, but because he’s the best player in the world. He has no rival. He’s Lamine Yamal.

‘Something very strange happened here. Next year, he’ll be the Spanish Ballon d’Or winner.’