Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that Lamine Yamal is fit to participate in the national team’s opening match of the World Cup against Cape Verde on Monday. Although Yamal is not expected to be part of the starting lineup, the 18-year-old forward is poised to make his return following a hamstring injury that sidelined him during the final weeks of the Barcelona season.

Yamal, who has rapidly emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young talents, played a key role in Spain’s triumph at the 2024 European Championship. Notably, he turned 17 just before the tournament final, highlighting his youth and potential. Many analysts view him as a potential successor to the legacies of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, positioning him as a future global soccer icon.

The World Cup’s early days in the United States have underscored Yamal’s rising popularity. His image features prominently in a large advertisement displayed at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the venue for Spain’s first match of the competition. Spain enters the tournament as the reigning European champion and boasts a single World Cup title from 2010, a year that similarly began with them holding the continental crown.

Spain is considered one of the favorites to win the tournament, sharing this status with France. As the team prepares to face Cape Verde, Yamal’s participation, even off the bench, signals a significant milestone in his burgeoning career and provides the squad with additional attacking options.