Lamine Yamal announced his arrival on the global stage with a historic goal as Spain defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their World Cup group stage encounter. The 18-year-old became only the second player aged 18 or younger to open the scoring at the tournament, matching a feat achieved by Pelé for Brazil in 1958.
The Barcelona forward slid home the opener from a low cross, marking his first World Cup goal and joining an exclusive list of seven players to find the net at the finals before their 19th birthday. He achieved the milestone two weeks younger than Lionel Messi was when he scored his first World Cup goal in 2006.
Former England striker Wayne Rooney told Match of the Day that the teenager has immediately become Spain’s focal point. “Everyone is looking to him to win,” Rooney said. Cesar Azpilicueta, who played alongside Yamal for Spain, noted that the forward’s creative instincts cannot be taught. “He knows how to create chances,” the former defender said.
Oyarzabal’s stunning response
While Yamal provided the headline moment, Mikel Oyarzabal delivered a devastating attacking display. The forward scored twice and provided an assist within the opening 25 minutes, becoming only the second player since 1966 to contribute to three goals in the first 25 minutes of a World Cup match.
The performance marked a dramatic turnaround from Spain’s opening fixture, where Oyarzabal had gone 30 minutes without a single touch during a goalless draw against Cape Verde. That result had left Spain needing a response, which they delivered with a vibrant, direct performance.
Looking ahead
Yamal was withdrawn at half-time as a precaution, with manager Luis de la Fuente carefully managing the youngster’s workload. Brentford manager Thomas Frank, speaking on Match of the Day, questioned how Yamal would handle the weight of expectation. “How can you stay humble enough?” Frank said.
The comprehensive victory puts Spain in a commanding position ahead of their final group stage match against Uruguay. Uruguay head into the fixture needing a victory to secure progression after recording two draws in the tournament, a situation complicated by their 5-1 friendly defeat to the United States prior to the finals.