GOAL's Culture & Clobber Axis: Lamine Yamal's signature boots, Spurs x Squid Game, Kyle Walker's playacting & more

A signature boot at 17 years old. SEVENTEEEN! ONE-SEVEN! Lamine Yamal is living out everyone's childhood fantasy as he continues to ball out for Barcelona despite still technically being a child himself, and adidas have already seen fit to bless him with his very own boots - the lace-less F50 LY304, a reference to his hometown postcode.

Continuing to follow in the footsteps of the GOAT Lionel Messi, Yamal has co-designed the pair of lovely, cloudy pink F50s with the German sportswear giant. He's clearly very happy with his work, beaming from ear to ear and draped in pink in a graduation-themed photoshoot to launch them. It's his world, we're just living in it.

Verdict? Blatant worldie

It seems Marcus Rashford's Man Utd story is finally coming to a sad ending. The jewel of Carrington, the 27-year-old has revealed he is seeking a fresh challenge after being left out of the squad for the Manchester derby, having become a pariah at Old Trafford - a consequence of his inconsistent form and off-field indiscretions in recent months.

There is not doubt that Rashford's commitment deserves to be called into question amid rumours of boozy nights out, but it is a real shame that his boyhood club are seemingly ready to cut him loose rather than try to help him through his personal issues to get him back to his best on the pitch.

Verdict? Blatant own goal

PUMA had a nightmare last week as Marc Cucurella's double slip in his brand new Future 8 boots and subsequent hissy fit caused them a marketing headache in the build-up to Christmas. What's the best thing to do in that situation? Owning it - and that's exactly what they did.

Cucurella posed next to a PUMA branded 'Caution wet floor' sign wearing the boots that he had literally binned, with similar signs popping up around London. Fair play.

Verdict? Maverick worldie

It's common knowledge that Barcelona are strapped for cash, but their latest money-making scheme has taken things to another level: the club has launched its very own tattoo collection.

Yes, that's right. The club has come up with 30 designs, and if you get one of them inked you will receive a certificate of authenticity, with a limited number available to mark the anniversary of the club. It's innovative, you have to give them that, but you can't help but feel that no one tattoo is more special than any other.

Verdict? Maverick own goal

Oh Kyle, Kyle, Kyle. The Manchester City defender has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent times, and he did his reputation no favours with a properly embarrassing piece of playacting in Sunday's derby with Manchester United.

Having cynically tripped Rasmus Hojlund off the ball, the pair went head to head before the England international inexplicably crumpled to the floor. Predictably, replays showed there was no headbutt from the Dane and Walker was left with pie on his face as he gave his haters even more ammo. To rub salt into the wounds, Hojlund was one of many who let rip on social media with a poem that ended 'But the Oscar goes to...'.

Verdict? Blatant own goal

Is Ademola Lookman the most underrated, underappreciated player around right now? That may be the case in Europe, but the Atalanta baller has just been crowned the best player in Africa. Nigeria international Lookman scooped the award for best men's player at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards in Marrakech after his hat-trick heroics in the Europa League final back in May.

Referencing his viral last-minute Panenka penalty gone wrong for Fulham in 2020 in his acceptance speech, he said: "Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world and fast-forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa." Long live King Lookman.

Verdict? Blatant worldie

Things have gone from bad to worse for Mykhailo Mudryk; already somewhat on the fringes of Enzo Maresca's Chelsea squad, the Ukrainian winger has now been hit with a provisional suspension after testing positive for a banned substance - reported to be meldonium, which boosts stamina and helps recovery.

This could well be the end of the road for the 23-year-old at Stamford Bridge, with the threat of a severe four-year ban hanging over him in the worst-case outcome as he anxiously awaits the result of a 'B' sample. The FA's anti-doping rules state that a player will be found guilty of a doping breach if that substance is found in their body, regardless of how it got there.

Verdict? Maverick own goal

There was confusion in the stands when the Blues emerged from the tunnel against Brentford on Sunday as, for a moment, it looked like an unannounced new signing or unknown academy graduate was about to make his debut.

It soon became evident that Chelsea didn't have a 12th man, and that was in fact Cole Palmer's mascot who was hilariously towering over him. For reference, Palmer is 6'1, so this lad must have been pushing 6'3. What is the age limit for being a mascot? Asking for a mate. We're not sure, but we're pretty certain he was over it.

Verdict? Maverick worldie

Artificial intelligence's influence in the football sphere continues to grow, with images created using X's AI assistant Grok the latest thing to catch on in a big way. Social media has been awash with unnervingly accurate AI-generated pictures of footballers in alternate realities, like Mikel Arteta reimagined as Tony Pulis and his Arsenal players in Stoke City shirts, and Cristiano Ronaldo getting married to Lionel Messi.

As much as some of the Grok images are good for a cheap laugh (like those ones), the lifelikeness makes them very creepy, and a lot of them feel a bit easy and obvious as faceless accounts chase likes and reposts on 'Football Twitter'. Let's see a bit more effort, everyone!

Verdict? Maverick own goal

It feels like everyone wants to be the biggest 'chill guy' at the moment, as the viral meme of a smirking cartoon dog wearing a jumper and jeans with its hand in its pockets sweeps football social media. After coming up clutch against in the Manchester derby, Amad Diallo staked the biggest claim yet.

Speaking to Man Utd's in-house media after bagging a last-ditch winner, the winger said: "I have been waiting for a long time to have this moment. I have been working so hard every day to have this moment, to live this moment, and I am so happy the team is very happy with me because I am a chill guy [laughs]."

Verdict? Blatant worldie

This is one of those, shall we say, less coherent brand partnerships that we were on about - and the timing isn't great. Tottenham have announced a deal with Netflix to support the launch of the second season of the incredibly successful Squid Game, with multiple activities involving fans planned for Sunday's game against Liverpool.

The thing is, there is set to be a protest against chairman Daniel Levy the very same day ahead of kick-off, amid growing discontent over the running of the club with Spurs mired in mid-table in the Premier League. Needless to say, the Squid Game announcement hasn't gone down very well with the fans.

Verdict? Maverick own goal