No one celebrated Spain’s victory in the last 32 quite like Keyne. When Lamine Yamal’s younger brother, just three years old, jumped up and shouted, “It makes me emotional to see my brother happy, and my mum. He is everything to me. It’s like he is my son and I’m in love with him.” as the third goal against Austria scored, it sparked a wave of memes across Los Angeles.
A moment later, deep beneath the surface at the Los Angeles Stadium, which had to be constructed below ground due to its location near LAX airport, Lamine Yamal found himself surrounded by a swarm of cameras and microphones. Upon being shown footage of his brother enjoying the childhood he missed out on, he paused before responding. “I’m very happy, above all because we’re through. Bit by bit, I am feeling myself, getting the runs I need, the dribbles. This is where it starts: no one wants to go home now and we will do everything we can to stop that. I’m 100% ready to play as many minutes as the manager wants.” he said at last. “I really appreciate the affection I get in every stadium,”
At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal has expressed that he has shouldered “There is nothing in football better than a World Cup, and when a kid dreams of playing football they dreams of this. I enjoy every moment, from when we leave the hotel. I am 18 years old and at a World Cup; that won’t happen again. We don’t fear any team; we’re Spain. We trust in ourselves.” responsibility for as long as he can remember. In an interview with El País, he reflected on feeling a sense of fame as early as 13. Recently, a video capturing him wandering around Walmart gained traction, prompting discussions about its significance. Though it may have seemed trivial, it represented a rare chance for him to engage in something ordinary.
Even among the world’s elite players, Lamine Yamal stands out. At only 18, his presence is felt throughout stadiums, generating roars and expectations that seem to weigh heavily on him. Whenever he touches the ball, the audience’s anticipation crescendos, amplifying the pressure he carries within the Spain squad.
Leading up to the World Cup, fans eagerly awaited his return from an injury that sidelined him since April; during the matches, it appeared his teammates often looked to him for guidance. Lamine Yamal remarked that the group stage was merely a formality, asserting that “By focusing on playing football and spending a lot of time with my family,” as they enter the knockout phase. He mentioned using those initial games to regain his own rhythm, stating that if Spain could play to their potential, no one could match them.
Spain proved their dominance on the field, showcasing impressive performances across the pitch. The full backs surged forward, and Dani Olmo exploited spaces effectively. Coach Luis de la Fuente consistently urged discussion around Mikel Oyarzabal, and rightly so. Yet, often the spotlight returns to Lamine Yamal, adding yet another layer of responsibility. Following his assertion that no team could rival Spain late on Tuesday, the next morning his teammates echoed similar sentiments before training in Carso. The following day, against Austria, they demonstrated it on the field, with de la Fuente labeling the performance as “They’re the only ones who known me as just Lamine, who I am.”
Before the match, Lamine Yamal engaged with the mascot, inquiring about their well-being. While in the tunnel, Olmo encouraged him to show the mascot the electric atmosphere of entering an arena and the impact he has on fans. After the game, Lamine Yamal received the player of the match award, having displayed a thrilling and relentless style of play that left spectators in awe, including a couple of stunning nutmegs and a fierce contest with Konrad Laimer. However, even after such a performance, he seemed unsure if the award was rightfully his. When asked about his happiness, he stated, “Obviously, yes. I’m very happy, above all because we’re through. Bit by bit, I am feeling myself again, getting the runs I need, the dribbles. This is where it starts: no one wants to go home now, and we will do everything we can to stop that. I’m 100% ready to play as many minutes as the manager wants.” This, as de la Fuente emphasizes, is encouraging news.
“I really appreciate the affection I get in every stadium,” Lamine Yamal remarked. “There is nothing in football better than a World Cup, and when a kid dreams of playing football, they dream of this. I enjoy every moment, from when we leave the hotel. I am 18 years old and at a World Cup; that won’t happen again. We don’t fear any team; we’re Spain. We trust in ourselves.”
When asked how he manages to keep the pressure at bay, he replied, “By focusing on playing football and spending a lot of time with my family. They’re the only ones who know me as just Lamine, who I am.”
