Spain's Lamine Yamal scores first World Cup goal as Ferran Torres stays resilient

Lamine Yamal, the 18‑year‑old Barcelona forward, opened the scoring for Spain against Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first player to net a World Cup goal for his country. He celebrated the moment as a lifelong dream, noting the support of his family and recalling watching a previous World Cup in school. Yamal’s strike came from a pass by Mikel Oyarzabal and highlighted his return to the starting lineup after a season‑ending injury.

Ferran Torres, also featuring for Spain, endured a frustrating start to the tournament. In the opening match he struck the post and later had a goal ruled out for a marginal off‑side after a VAR review, prompting him to mutter “please be a goal”. Despite criticism on social media and memes, Torres emphasized his mental toughness and determination to keep contributing to Spain’s campaign.

Both players underscored the psychological resilience required at the World Cup, with Yamal expressing joy at achieving a childhood ambition and Torres reaffirming his commitment to the team despite early setbacks.