TEXAS (United States) — Lamine Yamal is hoping to emulate Kylian Mbappe by winning the World Cup as a teenager, but first his Spain side will have to get the better of France and their superstar captain in Tuesday’s semi-final.
When Mbappe scored in France’s win over Croatia in the deciding match of the 2018 tournament, he was just 19 years and 207 days old. He therefore became only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after a 17-year-old Pele in 1958.
Mbappe’s love affair with the World Cup began then, while this is Yamal’s first experience of the competition.
He has already had his big breakthrough in a major tournament, however –- Yamal’s stunning goal in the Euro 2024 semifinal against Mbappe’s France helped Spain to a 2-1 victory.
That came four days before he turned 17. His birthday was the day before the final. Spain beat England, and Yamal was named young player of the tournament.
This time his 19th birthday comes on the eve of the semifinal in Arlington.
Such a young player with his best years to come. But he is clearly eager to leave a firm mark on this World Cup.
Perhaps too eager, having at one point been a doubt for the tournament after missing the end of the season with Barcelona due to a hamstring injury.
“I was afraid it might be serious and, above all, that even if it wasn’t serious, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup,” Yamal admitted in late May.
After coming off the bench in Spain’s opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal started against Saudi Arabia and scored before being replaced at halftime in a 4-0 victory.
He has started every game since, without adding to that solitary goal – that might be getting to him.
“I think Lamine needs to calm the anxiety he sometimes has because he wants to show how important a player he is for us,” Spain captain Rodri said.
“Given he was able to show that level of maturity at that European Championship, when he is two years older you are not so impressed by what he is able to do,” he added according to AFP.
With Yamal not as decisive, Spain has lacked the deadly verticality that made them so hard to stop at the Euros.
France, meanwhile, has rediscovered a cutting edge that evaded them at the Euros, and have the most thrilling attack at this World Cup.
Mbappe, now 27, is the talisman and seems intent on leaving a legacy as an all-time World Cup great.
With eight goals here, he is level with Lionel Messi in the golden boot race and is one behind the Argentine’s all-time World Cup record of 21 goals.
