2026 World Cup: Spain Has High Hopes, but Lamine Yamal Is Under Fire from Critics—Here’s His Strong Response

Despite Spain’s advancement to the semifinals following a 2-1 victory over Belgium, Lamine Yamal remains in the crosshairs of critics, even more so after a performance in which the talented Barcelona player was named man of the match: an honor that raised eyebrows among more than a few insiders, given that—aside from a few plays by the 2007-born player—it was other men in red who decided the match, first and foremost the (once again) match-winner Mikel Merino.

“Okay, scoring is fantastic, but it’s not the thought of scoring that drives my play,” said Lamine Yamal after the match against Belgium. “If you win the World Cup, no one’s going to look back at the number of goals scored or missed—what matters is the team result. If I also get some personal recognition, I’m happy, but the priority remains the team’s success.”

The Barça player’s only goal of this World Cup came in the 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia during the group stage: “The way I play often causes opponents to focus on me, and that opens up space for those around me. The goal is to win, and any contribution—even a run without the ball—can make a difference. I don’t like all this obsession with the goals I score or don’t score: I scored just one goal at the Euros too, and we won; it could happen again this time. You can all rest assured.”

The 18-year-old from Mataró is playing in his first World Cup, having missed the final month of the season in Spain due to a muscle injury, a problem with the biceps femoris in his left leg that led both Barcelona’s medical staff and that of the Spanish national team to recommend extreme caution ahead of the World Cup. In the last two matches, however, he has played the full ninety minutes plus stoppage time, without scoring or assisting, but always trying to catch the eye with delicate touches and elegant plays.