World Cup 2026: Spain's 'Young Star' Awaits His Moment to Shine

According to a VNA correspondent in Europe, after the 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals, Yamal was again voted Man of the Match. However, the 19-year-old forward himself admitted that he is only gradually regaining his match rhythm after a period of time off due to injury.

Since the start of the tournament, Yamal has scored only one goal in 405 minutes of playing time for the Spanish national team. This record is considered not yet commensurate with the expectations placed on a player regarded as one of the brightest talents in world football.

However, according to French sports daily L'Équipe, Yamal's effectiveness cannot be measured solely by the number of goals. Although he has not made a clear statistical impact, the young player still regularly creates breakthroughs thanks to his individual technique, speed, and ability to unsettle opposing defenses.

The article suggests that the reason Yamal has not reached his peak form stems from a left thigh injury at the end of April, which meant he entered the World Cup without fully optimal physical conditioning. In addition, seeing other stars shine one after another has sometimes made the young player impatient, leading to individualistic decisions rather than choosing the best option.

After the match against Belgium, Yamal stated that his goal is not to score many goals but to increase his influence on the team's play. He emphasized that he won the 2024 European Championship with Spain despite scoring only one goal and believes that the team's success is what matters most.

Coach Luis de la Fuente also spoke up to defend his player. According to him, Yamal always plays with great desire, and the coaching staff is trying to help the young player stay calm, preventing excessive determination from turning into pressure. The Spanish national team manager affirmed that the best attacking version of Yamal is still ahead of him.

According to L'Équipe, if Yamal regains his top form in the match against France, he could become the decisive factor. Conversely, containing this young star will also be one of the keys to determining "Les Bleus"' chances of reaching the final.