Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old FC Barcelona winger, scored his first FIFA World Cup goal on June 21, 2026, during Spain’s Group H match against Saudi Arabia. This achievement makes him the youngest player ever to score for Spain in a World Cup.
Yamal overcame a serious hamstring injury sustained on April 22, 2026, which raised questions about his participation in the tournament. Spain’s manager included him in the 26-man squad on May 25, giving him limited time to regain fitness before the crucial matches.
He made his World Cup debut on June 15 against Cape Verde, entering as a substitute, with the match ending in a goalless draw. Just six days later, he started against Saudi Arabia and scored his historic goal.
Yamal is among the youngest players to score in World Cup history. He previously contributed to Spain’s Euro 2024 victory at just 17 years old, highlighting his impressive potential and ambition, as he expressed desires to excel on the World Cup stage.