Asked whether Spain would win the World Cup, Lamine Yamal responded with a confident smile and a simple “yes”.
His remark to CBS ahead of the tournament surprised few, given how the teenage sensation has rapidly established himself among the world’s elite.
Yet for that prediction to materialise, many expected Yamal to dominate the competition in his debut World Cup appearance.
Thus far, that level of impact has not arrived.
The 19-year-old has registered a single goal and no assists, though Spain have advanced comfortably to Sunday’s final against Argentina.
While figures such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland have taken centre stage, Yamal’s tournament has been notably quiet.
But the decisive match may yet provide his defining moment.
Yamal’s record with Spain remains remarkable: he is unbeaten in 27 competitive appearances and has won all 12 matches he has started at major tournaments, the longest perfect starting run of any European player at such events.
Should he score in New York on Sunday, he would become only the third teenager to net in a World Cup final, following Pele in 1950 and Mbappe in 2018.
A title would make him the fourth teenager to start and win a World Cup final, joining Pele, Mbappe and Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi from 1982, with team-mate Pau Cubarsi, also 19, potentially becoming the fifth.
“No-one will care whether Lamine has scored lots of goals and created lots of goals,” said one Spain fan. “If he wins the World Cup with Spain, he will be a legend forever.
“If we lose to Argentina, no-one will remember his first World Cup. We know he will have lots of other World Cups and we believe he will become the greatest.
“But not many teenagers get the chance to win a World Cup. This is his chance. He will have regrets if we lose and he hasn’t been able to play his best.”
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