Lamine Yamal at World Cup 2026: Age, Goals, Records & Spain's Semi-Final Run
Lamine Yamal is the youngest player in Spain's World Cup 2026 squad and one of the tournament's most searched names. The 18-year-old Barcelona winger scored on his first World Cup start against Saudi Arabia and helped La Roja reach the semi-finals — where they face France on 14 July after beating Belgium 2–1 in the quarter-finals.
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Lamine Yamal: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana |
| Date of birth | 13 July 2007 (18 years old) |
| Birthplace | Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Position | Right winger |
| Club | FC Barcelona — #10 |
| National team | Spain |
| Manager | Luis de la Fuente |
Lamine Yamal World Cup 2026: Goals & Matches
Yamal was called up on 26 May 2026 as the youngest member of Spain's squad. He made his World Cup debut as a substitute against Cape Verde (0–0) and opened his account against Saudi Arabia.
| Match | Date | Stage | Role | Goals | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs Cape Verde | 15 Jun | Group H | Sub (64') | — | 0–0 |
| vs Saudi Arabia | 21 Jun | Group H | Starter | 10' | 4–0 |
| vs Uruguay | 27 Jun | Group H | — | — | — |
| vs Austria | 2 Jul | Round of 16 | — | — | 3–0 |
| vs Portugal | 6 Jul | Round of 8 | — | — | 1–0 |
| vs Belgium | 10 Jul | Quarter-final | — | — | 2–1 |
World Cup 2026 total: 1 goal — full match report vs Saudi Arabia.
Spain's knockout path: 3–0 Austria · 1–0 Portugal · <strong>2–1 Belgium (M98)</strong>.
Why Lamine Yamal Dominates Search at World Cup 2026
Three reasons "Lamine Yamal" ranks among the highest-volume player queries in July 2026:
- Age — At 18, he is the youngest Spain squad member and already wears Barcelona's #10 shirt.
- Euro 2024 pedigree — Euro 2024 champion and Best Young Player at 16; expectations were sky-high before kick-off.
- Spain's run — La Roja are semi-finalists; Yamal plays alongside Pedri, Nico Williams and Fabián Ruiz in Luis de la Fuente's 4-3-3.
Compare Spain's attack to Kylian Mbappé and France's semi-final path: July 9 results · July 10 results.
Career Highlights Before World Cup 2026
La Masia & Barcelona breakthrough
Born in Esplugues de Llobregat to a Moroccan father and Equatorial Guinean mother, Yamal joined La Masia after a youth hat-trick caught Barcelona scouts' attention. He made his first-team debut on 29 April 2023 aged 15 years, 9 months — the fifth-youngest La Liga debutant in history.
Key Barcelona milestones:
| Date | Record |
|---|---|
| Apr 2023 | Youngest Barcelona first-team debutant (15) |
| Oct 2023 | Youngest La Liga goalscorer (16 years, 87 days) |
| Oct 2024 | Youngest El Clásico goalscorer (17 years, 105 days) |
| May 2025 | Signed until 2031; inherited #10 from Ansu Fati |
| 2025–26 | 3rd La Liga title; 49 club games, 24 goals, 20 assists (season total) |
Spain national team records
Yamal broke Gavi's records on his senior debut:
- Youngest Spain debutant — 16 years, 57 days vs Georgia (Sep 2023)
- Youngest Spain goalscorer — same match, 7–1 win
- Youngest Euro 2024 player — 16 years, 338 days vs Croatia
- Youngest Euro assist — helped set up Dani Carvajal vs Croatia
At Euro 2024 he won the tournament with Spain and collected Best Young Player honours. He also finished 8th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or and won the 2024 Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy (2024 & 2025).
Playing Style: What Makes Yamal Special
Lamine Yamal is left-footed but comfortable with both feet — a trait that makes him unpredictable on the right wing. Luis de la Fuente deploys him to:
- Cut inside on his stronger left foot and shoot with curve
- Drive at full-backs with explosive acceleration and close control
- Link with Pedri and Fabián Ruiz in Spain's possession-heavy 4-3-3
- Combine with Nico Williams on the opposite flank — the Yamal–Williams axis defined Spain at Euro 2024
He has been compared to Lionel Messi (another La Masia graduate) and cites Neymar as his childhood idol. His goal celebration — the 304 gesture — references postcode 08304 in Rocafonda, the working-class Barcelona neighbourhood where he grew up.
Individual Awards & Titles
With Spain
- UEFA Euro 2024 — champion
With Barcelona
- La Liga: 2022–23, 2024–25, 2025–26
- Copa del Rey: 2024–25
- Supercopa de España: 2024–25, 2025–26
Individual honours (selected)
- Golden Boy — 2024
- Kopa Trophy — 2024, 2025
- Euro 2024 Best Young Player
- FIFA Team of the Year — 2024, 2025
- FIFPro World XI — 2025
What's Next: Spain vs France Semi-Final
Spain face France in Match 101 on 14 July 2026 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington — a clash between Europe's two most in-form sides.
| Player | Nation | WC 2026 goals | Next match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal | Spain | 1 | Semi vs France (M101) |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 8 | Semi vs Spain (M101) |
| Ousmane Dembélé | France | 5 | Semi vs Spain (M101) |
Full calendar · Results hub · Simulator · Spain team page
Lamine Yamal & the 2030 World Cup
Spain will co-host World Cup 2030 with Morocco and Portugal. Yamal will be 22 — entering his physical peak. Projections already list him alongside Endrick, Bellingham and Musiala as the faces of the post-Messi/Ronaldo era. See 2030 World Cup simulator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Lamine Yamal at World Cup 2026?
18 years old — born 13 July 2007. He turned 18 during the tournament and is the youngest player in Spain's squad.
How many goals has Lamine Yamal scored at World Cup 2026?
One goal — he opened the scoring in the 10th minute of Spain's 4–0 win over Saudi Arabia on 21 June 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
What number does Lamine Yamal wear for Barcelona?
#10 — he inherited the shirt in May 2025 when he signed a new contract until 2031.
Did Lamine Yamal win Euro 2024?
Yes — Spain won Euro 2024 in Germany. Yamal was 16 and won Best Young Player of the tournament.
Who does Spain play next at World Cup 2026?
France in the semi-finals on 14 July 2026 (Match 101, AT&T Stadium, Arlington) after beating Belgium 2–1 in the quarter-finals.
Is Lamine Yamal the youngest player at World Cup 2026?
He is the youngest in Spain's squad. Among all squads, Yamal remains one of the tournament's youngest participants at 18.
What position does Lamine Yamal play?
Right winger — though he can also operate as an attacking midfielder or second striker in Luis de la Fuente's system.