After becoming a global star before turning 18, Lamine Yamal now has his sights on the World Cup and introducing himself on United States soil.
The teenage sensation could be set to make his World Cup debut Monday when Spain begin their pursuit of a second championship in Group H play against Cape Verde in Atlanta.
Yamal finished second in voting for the most recent Ballon d’Or Trophy, the equivalent of the world’s MVP. He scored 24 goals with 17 assists across all competitions for Barcelona this past season. Two seasons ago, he scored 18 goals with 21 assists, all before his 18th birthday.
The youngest to play and score internationally for Spain (16 years, 57 days) Yamal is set to return after being sidelined since April 22 with a left hamstring injury.
“Ever since I was a kid, it’s been the one tournament everyone watches. That’s what makes it special,” Yamal told FIFA. “Even if you’re not into football, your country is playing and suddenly everyone is out in the streets, watching together. That’s the beauty of the game. It gives me goosebumps to think I’ll be part of it.”
Exactly how much Yamal and fellow recovering striker Nico Williams play in the opener, after missing the final tune-up friendly vs. Peru, remains to be seen.
“They’ll all be available for Cape Verde. Now, that doesn’t mean they’ll play. We’ll see how we all feel,” Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente said. “They come first. And we’ll see in that match whether we need to give them some playing time or not.”
Spain enter the World Cup second in the FIFA World Rankings. They won the 2023 Nations League Final and 2024 European Championship under de la Fuente.
In the World Cup, though, Spain have not advanced to the quarterfinals after winning the title in 2010.
“Playing every match as if it’s our last, respecting our opponents and being ready to challenge for the highest honors,” de la Fuente said. “The only things we ask for are effort, hard work and dedication. The results will take care of themselves.”
Cape Verde will be the second of four teams to make their World Cup debut, after Curacao faced Germany on Sunday.
At the time of their qualification last October, Cape Verde were the second-smallest country by land area and the third-smallest by population to qualify, until Curacao topped them in both categories. Cape Verde is an island nation off the west coast of Africa.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the Blue Sharks, who have been trying to qualify for the World Cup since before the 2002 event.
“Taking part in the World Cup is something that we probably never imagined happening so soon,” Cape Verde left back Stopira told FIFA. “Our people would always wait until the World Cup came around and then choose who they would support. But now they’ll have the pleasure of cheering on their own country.”
Cape Verde’s team represents 14 countries in domestic play. The squad’s only player in a top-five European league, Villarreal defender Logan Costa, made the roster despite playing just 14 minutes this past season after an ACL tear in August.
Other World Cup matches to be played Monday:
–Group G: Belgium vs. Egypt at Seattle: Romelu Lukaku and Belgium’s group of aging stars will look to channel the country’s 2018 third-place finish, not the 2022 group-stage exit. Egypt, making their fourth World Cup appearance, are seeking their first tournament win.
–Group H: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay at Miami Gardens, Fla.: Saudi Arabia have an easier opening task than four years ago, when they began with an upset of eventual champion Argentina. Uruguay, without all-time goals leader Luis Suarez, won two of the first four World Cups but haven’t finished better than fourth since.
–Group G: Iran vs. New Zealand at Inglewood, Calif.: The expansion of the knockout round to 32 teams could very well mean either Iran or New Zealand advance past the group stage for the first time. An opening three points would put one well on its way.
–Field Level Media
