Lamine Yamal leads Spain into World Cup semifinal against France

Spain’s 18‑year‑old winger Lamine Yamal, who turns 19 on the day of the match, has become a focal point of the team’s World Cup run. After scoring his only tournament goal in the 4‑0 group‑stage win over Saudi Arabia, Yamal was named player of the match in the quarter‑final win over Belgium, where he registered the most shots, dribbles and progressive passes for Spain. He has previously netted three goals against France in his 31 caps, including decisive strikes in the Euro 2024 and Nations League 2025 semifinals. Yamal says his lack of goals will not matter if Spain win the title, adding “the important thing is winning.” His confidence was echoed by teammates and analysts, while French players responded calmly to his pre‑match remarks. The winger, fully recovered from a hamstring injury, also drew attention for sharing a celebratory moment with his three‑year‑old brother after the Belgium game. Statistically, Opta records show Yamal has a single World Cup goal, a 45.7 % dribble success rate and the tournament’s highest number of lost possessions (104). Despite the mixed numbers, his influence on Spain’s attack has been highlighted by coaches and commentators alike as Spain prepares for the Dallas semifinal against France.