ATLANTA (AP) — Lamine Yamal First start took just 10 minutes world cup Scores his first goal on soccer’s biggest stage.
The 18-year-old forward slipped in at the far post and slotted a low cross into the goal to give Spain a 1-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday.
Yamal missed the final stages of Barcelona’s season with a hamstring injury and came on as a substitute in the second half when Spain were caught by surprise. 0-0 draw with Cape Verde At the opening game.
The question of whether Yamal would start the next game was the biggest talking point ahead of the game against Saudi Arabia, but coach Luis de la Fuente gave Spanish fans what they wanted. The move quickly paid off with Yamal’s quick attacks.
The teenager is already considered one of the world’s top players and helped Spain win the 2024 European Championship, despite being only 16 at the start of the competition.
He could replace Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as the sport’s biggest star.
On Sunday, Yamal knelt on the Atlanta Stadium grass to pray and kiss after driving away to celebrate.
His goal was the first of a string of goals in the first half for Spain, one of the pre-tournament favorites.
Mikel Oyarzabal, who was criticized for not touching the ball at all in the first 30 minutes of Spain’s draw with Cape Verde, not only assisted Yamal, but also scored two more goals in the 21st and 24th minutes.
Yamal and Oyarzabal were sent off before the start of the second half as Spain held a commanding lead by half-time.
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James Robson is https://x.com/James Saran Robson
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