Yamal says Spain’s World Cup run matters more than his goal tally
Lamine Yamal has one goal at the 2026 World Cup, but said Spain’s pursuit of the title is his priority after reaching the semifinals.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
Lamine Yamal said Spain’s progress at the 2026 World Cup matters more than his own scoring record after the team reached the semifinals with a quarterfinal win over Belgium in Los Angeles. Al Jazeera and AFP reported that the 18-year-old forward was named player of the match even though he did not score.
Yamal has scored once at the tournament, in Spain’s 4-0 group-stage victory over Saudi Arabia on June 21, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. He has not found the net since, while other high-profile forwards at the tournament, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, have been regular scorers, the agencies reported.
After Friday’s match, Yamal said he was not judging his tournament only by goals. “Obviously I want to score, but I don’t go onto the pitch thinking about that. I do it thinking about helping the team,” he said, according to Al Jazeera and AFP.
The Barcelona player said Spain’s overall result would shape how his performances are remembered. “If we win the World Cup, no one will remember whether I scored goals … The important thing is winning,” Yamal said after the Belgium match, according to Al Jazeera and AFP.
Yamal also said he can influence games without scoring. “I know I can contribute even if I don’t score. I know my movements draw in many opponents, so I do everything I can to help the team,” he said, according to the report.
Spain set up France semifinal
Spain’s win over Belgium sent the team into a World Cup semifinal against France, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. The match will give Yamal another meeting with a team he helped beat during Spain’s run to the European Championship title in 2024.
Yamal was 16 when he emerged as a leading figure in Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. He scored once in that tournament, in a 2-1 semifinal win over France, the agencies reported.
Asked about comparisons with that campaign, Yamal pointed to Spain’s success rather than his personal numbers. “There’s an idea that I should be scoring more, like at the Euros, but we won the Euros with me scoring just one goal. And I have one goal here too, so I’m relaxed about it,” he said, according to Al Jazeera and AFP.
Yamal, who turns 19 the day before the semifinal, framed the France match as another test between familiar opponents. “There are two possibilities — either they reach three consecutive World Cup finals, or we beat them three times in a row. We’ll see what happens,” he said, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. He added: “We aren’t afraid at all.”
Al Jazeera and AFP reported that Yamal also set a World Cup age record on Friday by making his sixth appearance in the competition, the most by any player aged 18 or younger.
Family moment after the match
Yamal’s younger half-brother Keyne also drew attention during Spain’s celebrations in Los Angeles, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. The three-year-old appeared on the stadium screen, screamed, stuck out his tongue and blew a kiss toward Yamal.
The moment made Yamal laugh and wave back, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. The report said Keyne has accompanied Yamal to award shows and other public events and has appeared on stadium cameras several times during the World Cup, drawing cheers from fans.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.