Spain’s teenage forward Lamine Yamal emphasized the importance of team success over personal goal-scoring as his side prepares to face France in the World Cup semi-finals. Despite being one of the youngest stars at the tournament, Yamal acknowledged his limited goal tally but insisted that collective victory remains the priority.

At 18 years old, Yamal has scored just once during the competition, netting in a 4-0 group stage victory over Saudi Arabia. His lack of goals contrasts with other prolific scorers in the tournament like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane. Still, Yamal downplayed individual statistics, saying, “If we win the World Cup, no one will remember whether I scored goals.” The Barcelona forward highlighted his broader contributions on the field, adding that his movements often draw defenders and create space for teammates.

Yamal’s current approach aligns with his role in Spain’s 2022 European Championships success, where he was viewed as a breakout talent despite scoring just one goal—a key strike in the semi-final against France. “There’s an idea that I should be scoring more, like at the Euros, but we won the Euros with me scoring just one goal. And I have one goal here too, so I’m relaxed about it,” he said.

Spain’s victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals set up the highly anticipated semi-final clash with tournament favorites France, who are seeking a third consecutive World Cup final appearance. Yamal acknowledged the challenge ahead but remained confident, noting, “There are two possibilities—either they reach three consecutive World Cup finals, or we beat them three times in a row. We’ll see what happens. We aren’t afraid at all.”

Yamal, who will turn 19 the day before the semi-final, is expected to continue playing a significant role for Spain as they aim to advance to the final. His focus on team dynamics and willingness to contribute beyond goal-scoring have made him a key figure in Spain’s campaign so far.