Spain coach says Yamal's best yet to come before Belgium

Spain's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal carries the hopes of a nation into a World Cup quarterfinal against Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday, July 10, 2026, as his coach insists the 18-year-old's best is yet to come at the tournament. The Barcelona winger, a European champion with Spain in 2024, has been a constant menace to defenders but has only one goal so far in the competition.

Head coach Luis de la Fuente said Yamal, who arrived at the tournament still recovering from a late-season injury, has shown immense maturity and remains crucial to Spain's system even as his attacking output has not yet matched his usual standard. "We know that the best version of him, the attacking Lamine, is something that we haven't quite seen yet in this World Cup. Not to the level that we're used to," De la Fuente stated ahead of the match. He added that the player is highly motivated and that his intense duel with Portugal's Nuno Mendes in the previous round, which forced the defender off injured, was a sign of his growing influence.

Statistically, Yamal's impact is clear. In his 352 minutes played, he has completed 23 take-ons, tying for the tournament lead, and his ball progression numbers...