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Lamine Yamal is hoping to emulate Kylian Mbappe by winning the World Cup as a teenager, but first his Spain side will have to get the better of France and its superstar captain in Tuesday's semifinal.
When Mbappe scored in France's win over Croatia in the deciding match of the 2018 tournament, he was just 19 years and 207 days old. He became the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after a 17-year-old Pele in 1958.
While Lamine Yamal is experiencing the FIFA World Cup for the very first time, Kylian Mbappe’s love affair with the tournament is well-established. Yet, Yamal has already tasted defining success on the grand stage. It was his stunning equalizer against Mbappe’s France in the Euro 2024 semifinal that propelled Spain to a 2-1 victory—a masterclass delivered just four days before his 17th birthday.
A day after turning 17, he celebrated lifting the European Championship trophy against England alongside the Young Player of the Tournament award. Now, his 19th birthday falls right on the eve of the World Cup semifinal in Arlington.
Though his prime years are far ahead of him, the teenage prodigy is clearly determined to leave an indelible mark on this tournament. That eagerness, however, nearly cost him. After missing the end of Barcelona's season with a hamstring injury, his World Cup dreams hung in the balance. "I was afraid it might be serious," Yamal admitted in late May. "And above all, that even if it wasn't, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup."
After coming off the bench in Spain's opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal started against Saudi Arabia and scored before being replaced at half-time in a 4-0 victory.
Though he has started every match since, Yamal has failed to add to that solitary goal—a drought that may be weighing on the teenager. "I think Lamine needs to calm the anxiety he sometimes experiences out of a desire to show how crucial he is for us," Spain captain Rodri noted on Sunday. "Given the maturity he displayed at the Euros, the fact that he is now two years older means we expect this level of performance from him."
With Yamal struggling to find his decisive edge, Spain has lacked the lethal, vertical directness that made the team unstoppable in 2024. Conversely, France has rediscovered the clinical final touch that eluded them at the Euros, boasting the most explosive frontline at this World Cup.
At the heart of it is the 27-year-old Mbappe. The French talisman seems fiercely determined to cement his legacy among the tournament's all-time greats; with eight goals in this campaign alone, he has drawn level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and sits just one behind the Argentine’s historic record of 21 career World Cup goals.
Having won the trophy in 2018 and scored a hat trick in the 2022 final, Mbappe has a third straight final in his sights. He can therefore match the achievement of the great Brazilian full-back Cafu, who played in three in a row from 1994 to 2002.
Pele and Diego Maradona each only graced two finals. His apparent obsession with the World Cup may explain why he missed a chunk of the second half of the season with Real Madrid. As he nursed injuries, some supporters questioned his commitment to their club. "I know people talk about the stats. I watch the TV too."
"But my only focus is on helping the team and getting us back here on July 19," Mbappe said after beating Sweden in the last 32 at MetLife Stadium, the venue for the final. "I have won a World Cup and been a runner-up."
"This team has done neither of those things, but it is the team with the greatest potential," he added after defeating Morocco in the quarterfinals.
Yamal and Mbappe represent more than just elite football; they are icons of a modern, multicultural Europe. With a World Cup winners' medal and polished English skills, Mbappe possesses the veteran status that makes him a marketing dream for this American tournament.
Off the pitch, the teenage Yamal is still growing into his global stardom—but on the pitch, he has completely dominated the Frenchman. Across a fierce two-year stretch of Clasico battles and international clashes, the head-to-head record is heavily lopsided.
In 10 matches for club and country, Yamal has gotten the better of Mbappe eight times, leaving the Real Madrid star with a mere two victories.
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