Lamine Yamal leads Spain past Belgium to World Cup semifinal

Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarter‑final, with 18‑year‑old winger Lamine Yamal named player of the match. Although he did not score, Yamal helped create chances, registered the most shots, dribbles and crosses for Spain, and was praised for his overall impact on the game.

Yamal, who has only one tournament goal – a strike against Saudi Arabia in the group stage – shared an emotional celebration with his three‑year‑old brother, who appeared on the stadium screen and blew a kiss to his sibling.

Commentators from FOX Sports were repeatedly corrected by viewers for incorrectly stating that Yamal had not yet scored in the tournament.

Analyst Mauro Beting described Yamal as a "monster" and a potential game‑changer for Spain’s upcoming semifinal against France.

Separately, Yamal’s father missed the tournament due to health concerns related to epilepsy, preventing long‑haul travel to the United States.