Spain are in their first World Cup semifinal since 2010, and their most famous player has barely shown up on the scoresheet. One goal. Zero assists. Six games. For Lamine Yamal, by his own standards, that's a quiet tournament.
The 18-year-old — he turns 19 on July 13 — arrived in North America as one of the most hyped players at the competition. At Euro 2024, he delivered: 1 goal and 4 assists across 7 appearances as Spain lifted the trophy. The expectation was more of the same. It hasn't been.
Spain don't need him to carry them
What's interesting is that Spain have barely noticed. Mikel Oyarzabal has three goals. Marc Cucurella has chipped in two assists. La Roja's attack is functioning as a collective rather than a one-man show, and that's arguably made them harder to stop.
There's a reasonable argument that Yamal's relative quietness has forced Spain to develop a more balanced attacking identity. When the world's best young winger is your plan A, opposition defenses make him plan A too. Without that crutch, Spain have spread the load — and it's working.
None of that changes the fact that a fully switched-on Yamal would make this Spain side even more dangerous ahead of a semifinal against France. His odds of finishing as a top assist provider or scorer at this tournament have shortened considerably — he'd need a big finish to get there. But right now, Spain don't need him to. That's either a comfort or a problem, depending on what France's defensive setup looks like.
The World Cup is a different animal
For context: this is Yamal's first World Cup. Euro 2024, where he announced himself to the planet, was played largely in front of familiar European crowds. The World Cup, held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is a different scale entirely — more scrutiny, different opponents, different pressure.
It's not an excuse. Players of his caliber are expected to adapt fast. But it may explain why the teenager who looked unstoppable 12 months ago has been slightly subdued. He has time. Spain's run continues.
One goal in six games. A World Cup semifinal. The two facts sit awkwardly together — and France will be hoping that awkwardness continues.
