Lamine Yamal marked his World Cup debut with a decisive goal as Spain secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Atlanta. The 18-year-old forward scored just 10 minutes into his first start, helping to ease tensions following Spain’s unexpected goalless draw against Cape Verde in their opening match.

Yamal, who plays for Barcelona, became the eighth-youngest goal scorer in World Cup history with his finish—a low, well-timed tap-in at the far post from Mikel Oyarzabal’s cross. The goal boosted both the team’s confidence and prospects after their underwhelming initial performance in the tournament.

“This is just the beginning,” Yamal said after the match, reflecting on Spain’s recovery from the earlier setback. “The first game wasn’t really us, it was different, but now we’ve arrived and we’re going for more.”

Considered one of football’s brightest young talents, Yamal had a standout role in Spain’s 2024 European Championship triumph despite being only 16 at the time. Entering this World Cup, there were lingering concerns about his fitness after missing the closing stages of the club season due to a hamstring injury. In Spain’s opening match, he came off the bench, but against Saudi Arabia he was included in the starting lineup and quickly demonstrated his impact.

Yamal’s performance places him among early tournament goal scorers such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane, all of whom have made strong starts to the competition. As a winger known for his speed and skill, Yamal is already seen by many as a future global star poised to follow in the footsteps of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

For Yamal personally, scoring in his first World Cup start fulfilled a longstanding ambition. He recalled watching the previous World Cup from a classroom and described the experience of celebrating with his family in the stands as “a dream come true.”

Spain’s comprehensive win over Saudi Arabia signals a resurgence after their draw and may set the tone for their campaign as they seek to build on their European triumph and contend for the World Cup title.