Despite failing to find the net in Spain's quarterfinal victory over Belgium, Lamine Yamal was named player of the match and shared a heartwarming moment with his little brother during celebrations in Los Angeles.
Yamal, who has scored only once since Spain's group-stage win over Saudi Arabia on June 21, insists that his personal goal tally will be forgotten if Spain lifts the World Cup trophy.
"Obviously I want to score, but I don't go onto the pitch thinking about that. I do it thinking about helping the team," said the 18-year-old Barcelona star. "If we win the World Cup, no one will remember whether I scored goals. The important thing is winning."
At a tournament where stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane have been prolific, Yamal has just one goal to date—a routine finish in a 4-0 group-stage thrashing of Saudi Arabia. He failed to score again as Spain booked their second World Cup semifinal appearance.
Despite the lack of goals, Yamal has been a consistent performer for La Roja and continues to break records. On Friday, he made his sixth FIFA World Cup appearance, the most by any player aged 18 or younger in the competition's history.
Two years ago, as a 16-year-old, Yamal was the breakout star of Spain's European Championship-winning campaign, scoring just once—a stunning strike in the semifinal against France.
"There's an idea that I should be scoring more, like at the Euros, but we won the Euros with me scoring just one goal. And I have one goal here too, so I'm relaxed about it," he said with a smile.
Spain will face tournament favorites France in the semifinals. Yamal, who turns 19 the day before the match, remains confident. "There are two possibilities—either they reach three consecutive World Cup finals, or we beat them three times in a row. We'll see what happens. We aren't afraid at all."
During post-match celebrations, a tender moment between Yamal and his three-year-old half-brother Keyne stole the show. Keyne, who has become a fan favorite, was caught on the big screen sticking out his tongue and blowing kisses at his brother, prompting Yamal to laugh and wave back.
Spain's semifinal clash with France promises to be a thrilling encounter as Yamal and his teammates aim to overcome the free-scoring French side.