Lamine Yamal Blasted Spain Into World Cup Favoritism in 10 Minutes, And They Still Aren't Out of the Woods

Holy smokes, did you guys see what Lamine Yamal just did against Saudi Arabia?! This kid is unreal! In approximately ten minutes, this absolute genius put Spain's game out of reach, dropping a bomb that immediately has La Roja looking like serious contenders for the World Cup trophy. If you doubted it before, Spain is looking like favorites again, and it’s all thanks to the magic this young player brings. You felt the pressure lift, right? It was palpable.

The Kid Is That Good, But MVP? Seriously.

Let's talk about the impact. It wasn't just the goal, though that was fantastic. Luis de la Fuente, the coach, knew he had to risk playing Lamine even if he wasn't feeling a hundred percent. That's how much they need him. And Yamal delivered, striking genuine fear into Saudi Arabia from the very first whistle. That kind of presence, that creative spark, you can't teach that in any academy. Mikel Oyarzabal bagged two goals and an assist, a monster game by any standard, but even he wasn't the MVP. That accolade, without a doubt, went to Lamine Yamal because of the way he made everyone around him better, making the job for his teammates look easy. Without him, Spain really could be looking at an early exit. With him, it's a completely different story.

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> Here’s the thing, though, and it's a huge "uh oh" moment: Lamine Yamal tore his hamstring back in April! So yeah, watching him dominate like that is thrilling, but it also screams danger. De la Fuente has got to be smarter than letting Spain learn the wrong lesson from this game. Yamal will absolutely do whatever his coach asks, but his welfare HAS to be protected. The kid cannot go 90 minutes right now, let alone the 120 minutes that might be needed in the knockout stages. Spain is ridiculously dependent on him, that much is crystal clear. But over the next couple of weeks, they desperately need to figure out how to play well *without* him for stretches. Remember what happened against Cape Verde? That was a serious cautionary tale. Spain, without their best player, is a flawed team and can get totally exposed. This isn't the South Africa 2010 squad loaded with Ballon d'Or-caliber players across the board. This is the Lamine Yamal show, and while it's incredible to watch, he needs some reliable sidekicks if Spain is going to make a magical run all the way to the final. So, while we're all rightfully hyped about Yamal, the supporting cast better step up against Uruguay and in those first few knockout games. Can they find a way to thrive even when their young superstar isn't pushing 100 percent? That's the real question hanging over this squad. We're excited, but the path forward for Spain still has some serious hurdles.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.