In the past two seasons, the sight of Barcelona players such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski regularly wearing wrist or hand tape has sparked debate across football forums. Yamal initially sustained a two-finger injury on his right hand in 2/2025, but the 18-year-old talent has continued to wear the tape until today. Raphinha also suffered an injury during a Brazil national team training camp and maintained his wrist taping until the end of last season.

Yamal and Lewandowski celebrate a goal, each with one hand taped around the wrist area. Photo: EFE

Yamal and Lewandowski celebrate a goal, each with one hand taped around the wrist area. Photo: EFE

This topic was discussed on the Reddit football community five months ago, with many commentators raising the possibility of doping. In late 4/2025, former Real Madrid medical head Niko Mihic publicly voiced suspicions that Barcelona players might be injecting banned substances into their wrists, and that the wrist tape was used to conceal this.

"I do not know what the trend is, but any doctor knows that if you want quick and easy vein access, the primary location is the hand and wrist", said Mihic, who spent 7 years with Real, to Spanish newspaper MARCA. "I do not understand why they do it, but let them deny it, let them explain to me what the purpose is. What is the secret here? It is certainly not from playing too much billiards. I do not believe in fashion trends, nor do I think they are faking injuries or have physical defects".

In response to the doctor's opinion, many Reddit users pointed out that numerous Real players also frequently wear wrist tape, including Karim Benzema, Vinicius, Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, and Fran Garcia.

In early 5/2025, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport consulted Dr. Marco Scorcu of Cagliari club, an expert on the matter. Scorcu, who serves as Vice President of the Italian Federation of Sports Doctors, affirmed that there is no mysterious motive behind footballers wearing wrist tape.

Strikers Vinicius and Benzema also wore hand tape in many Real matches. Photo: EFE

Strikers Vinicius and Benzema also wore hand tape in many Real matches. Photo: EFE

"To be clear, there are many points of vein access on the body", Dr. Marco Scorcu countered Mihic's argument. "If someone has something to hide, why would they choose the wrist or hand and use such obvious tape, when it could easily be done in less exposed areas of the body? More importantly, once a vein access point has been used, such as for blood tests, the protection is no longer necessary after half an hour".

Scorcu also suggested that Mihic's hypothesis undermines the strict control procedures of clubs and federations. He proposed an alternative: "It would be much more logical to attribute all these cases to superstitious motives rather than vein access. Players often develop a habit: once they score a goal while wearing wrist tape, they want to keep it, even after the injury has healed".

He also cited cases he personally encountered. "I once had two players who regularly did this for wrist sprains, and goalkeepers do it constantly because they are accustomed to overuse in that body area and suffer many wrist injuries", Scorcu added. "Sometimes the tape remains even after the problem has healed; it becomes a condition in that body part".

Another expert, Ben Warburton, concurred with Scorcu. The physiotherapist, who worked with Cardiff City and the Wales rugby team, stated that players like Phil Foden continue to wear tape after recovering from a broken hand for several reasons.

Foden celebrates a goal with white tape wrapped around his two middle fingers and most of his hand to his wrist. Photo: Reuters

Foden celebrates a goal with white tape wrapped around his two middle fingers and most of his hand to his wrist. Photo: Reuters

"First is prevention, for example, when a player falls to the ground, wrist tape reduces the risk of injury in this area", Warburton told BBC Sport. "Taping can reduce hyperextension at the wrist joint, providing a sense of security after an injury. Restricting wrist movement helps give players confidence to play more aggressively without fear of re-injury, and if they fall, their wrists will be somewhat protected".

Physiotherapy expert Antonio Perez recently summarized the diverse reasons why players use wrist and hand tape. He emphasized that it is not always medically indicated.

"First are wrist sprains: most occur from falls, and in football, players fall often, so players use tape to give them a sense of security", Perez explained. "In cases where two or more fingers are taped together, it is usually to immobilize a sprained area, helping movements during running feel comfortable".

Beyond treatment, Perez also mentioned the motive of maintaining focus and morale. However, he considered Yamal's case "somewhat ostentatious", because even though the initial injury was only to a finger, the Barcelona forward also taped his entire wrist "to add more flair on the field".

Besides treatment, many players like Yamal also tape their hands to appear cooler on the field. Photo: AFP

Besides treatment, many players like Yamal also tape their hands to appear cooler on the field. Photo: AFP

Finally, there is the purpose of a "talisman", or player superstition. According to Perez, this happens not only in football but in many other sports; many players use compression sleeves or tight-fitting underwear beneath their match attire, even though the practical benefits are minimal or nonexistent. But the mere feeling of wearing them helps them feel more confident, or sometimes it is purely for aesthetic reasons.

Hoang Thong compiled