Lamine Yamal is 18 years old. He’s also arguably Spain’s most important player at the World Cup. That’s not hyperbole. That’s just where we’re at with this kid.
In a candid interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona winger opened up about handling expectations, dealing with criticism, and why he actually likes having a target on his back. He also tipped his cap to Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ahead of what could be a quarterfinal showdown.
On the pressure of being Spain’s guy
Yamal doesn’t see the weight of a nation’s hopes as a burden. He sees it as something to enjoy.
“Ultimately, I see it as something I can really enjoy,” he said. “It’s lovely that people believe in you and trust you. I see it as something positive, not as pressure, and it makes me very happy.”
That level of composure is rare for someone his age. But then again, Yamal has been dealing with this stuff for a while now. He’s been a starter for Barcelona and Spain since he was 16. The spotlight isn’t new.
Handling the noise
Criticism comes with the territory when you’re this good this young. Yamal gets that. He just doesn’t let it stick.
“There are two sides to it: the people who trust you and believe in you, and then the people who hope you don’t do well so they can have a go at you,” Yamal said. “The important thing is to stay calm and stick to the path we’re on, which is to win, win and win.”
He was asked if any specific criticism had gotten under his skin. His answer was simple.
“No, not really. In the end, when you win, everything hurts less.”
Hard to argue with that logic.
Still more in the tank
Yamal has played well this tournament. But he thinks his best is still coming. He missed nearly two months with an injury before the World Cup, and he’s still shaking off the rust.
“I’d been out of action for nearly two months, and it’s not the same as when you’ve played seven matches in a row,” he said. “Just keep touching the ball, keep playing, keep racking up the minutes. That match will come.”
Spain faces Belgium in the quarterfinals. If they get through that, a matchup with France or Morocco could be next. Yamal has thoughts on both.
“We have fond memories of France, and it would be very special for me to play against Morocco,” he said. “The good thing is that they’re both great, top-class teams. Whoever we face, we’ll try to win and reach the final.”
First up: Courtois. Yamal didn’t downplay the challenge of facing one of the world’s best keepers.
“For me, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Yamal said. “That will make things more difficult for me, but as always, I’ll go out there wanting to win and not thinking about any particular player.”
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