Ten minutes. That’s all Lamine Yamal needed to do something only one other teenager has ever done at a World Cup.
Spain needed a fast start against Saudi Arabia after that disappointing draw with Cabo Verde in their group opener. Luis de la Fuente’s squad delivered. And Yamal delivered the moment that will follow him for the rest of his career.
When a dangerous cross skidded across the face of goal in the 10th minute, Yamal was waiting at the back post to turn it into the net. That made him the second player aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a World Cup match. The other guy? Pelé, who did it for Brazil against Wales back in 1958 when he was 17.
That’s not bad company.
Spain didn’t stop there. Ten minutes later, Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice in quick succession, putting the game out of reach before halftime. But the opening goal was the one people will talk about.
Yamal has been the subject of hype for years — Barcelona’s youngest goalscorer, the teenager who carries himself like a veteran. But a World Cup stage is different. The pressure, the stakes, the weight of expectation. He handled it like he’s been doing this for a decade.
A Slow Start Wiped Away
Spain’s opening match against Cabo Verde left a lot of questions unanswered. They controlled possession but couldn’t find the breakthrough. The 1-1 draw felt like a missed opportunity, and suddenly a team expected to cruise through the group stage was staring at real math problems.
That’s what made the first 20 minutes against Saudi Arabia so decisive. It wasn’t just that Spain won. It was how quickly they erased any doubt about whether they were ready for this tournament.
De la Fuente made some adjustments after the opener, and they paid off immediately. The midfield clicked. The wingers found space. And when the ball arrived at Yamal’s feet near the goal line, the finish was clinical.
Fans online were quick to make the Pelé comparison. And let’s be honest — in a sport that loves to crown the next big thing, those comparisons usually feel forced. But this one lands differently. A teenager scoring the opening goal of a World Cup match is genuinely rare. Doing it while wearing Spain’s No. 10? That’s the kind of detail that makes a story write itself.
Spain still has work to do in the group stage. But they’ve announced themselves now. And Yamal has announced that the generational talent label isn’t just hype anymore. It’s a fact.
Leave a Comment