When asked if Spain would claim the World Cup title, Lamine Yamal simply smiled and said “yes”.
His reply to the American broadcaster CBS before the tournament would not have shocked anyone who has watched the self-assured teenager rise to become one of the finest footballers on the planet.
For many, however, fulfilling that prophecy meant Lamine Yamal would need to dominate his debut World Cup in spectacular fashion.
That simply has not materialized up to this point.
The 19-year-old has found the net once and has yet to register an assist, yet his national side has still sailed into the final, where they will meet Argentina on Sunday.
While other global icons like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland have delivered headline performances, Lamine Yamal’s tournament has been remarkably low-key.
Could this occasion, however, be his time to shine?
Lamine Yamal’s record for Spain is nothing short of extraordinary. He has never tasted defeat in the 27 competitive matches he has featured in for his country. He has started 12 games at major tournaments for Spain and celebrated victory in every single one, the longest perfect winning streak by any European player when starting at major tournaments.
If he finds the net in New York on Sunday, he will become just the third teenager to score in a World Cup final, following in the footsteps of Pele in 1950 and Mbappe in 2018.
Should Spain lift the trophy, he will become only the fourth teenager ever to start a World Cup final and win it, joining Pele, Mbappe and Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi in 1982. His 19-year-old teammate Pau Cubarsi could become the fifth.
“Nobody will be concerned about whether Lamine has bagged plenty of goals or set up many chances,” said one Spain supporter. “If he secures the World Cup with Spain, he will be immortalized as a legend.
“If we fall to Argentina, nobody will recall his first World Cup. We understand he will have many more World Cups ahead, and we are convinced he will become the greatest.
“But not many teenagers get the opportunity to seize a World Cup title. This is his opening. He will be filled with regret if we lose and he hasn’t been able to deliver his finest performance.”
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