Spain Coach Warns Belgium: Best of Lamine Yamal Still to Come

Spain coach Luis De La Fuente has warned that Lamine Yamal is yet to show his best attacking form at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the European champions prepare to face Belgium in Friday’s quarterfinal. The highly rated 18-year-old has scored once and is yet to register an assist at the tournament after arriving in the United States while still recovering from a late-season injury.

Yamal played a major role in Spain’s European Championship triumph two years ago but has not produced the same attacking numbers at the World Cup. Despite that, the Barcelona winger has remained a constant threat to opposing defenders, particularly when attacking down the right flank. De La Fuente said Spain have not yet seen the attacking version of Yamal that they are accustomed to watching.

The Spain coach praised Yamal following the team’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the previous round, describing the performance as one of the teenager’s best and an important moment in his development. Yamal was involved in an intense battle with Portugal defender Nuno Mendes, who left the field in the 55th minute after being forced to work hard to contain the Spanish winger.

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De La Fuente said the challenges Yamal has faced during the tournament have provided an important lesson in maturity. The coach added that the teenager does not require extra motivation and sometimes needs to control his intensity because of his determination to influence matches. He remains confident that Yamal’s attacking potential will become more visible as Spain progress deeper into the competition.

Spain enter the quarterfinal without conceding a goal at the World Cup, but their defence is expected to face a major test against a confident Belgium side. The Red Devils scored four goals against co-hosts the United States in their previous match and possess several experienced attacking players capable of troubling the reigning European champions.

De La Fuente remains convinced that Yamal will make a greater attacking impact as the tournament continues and believes his best performances are still ahead of him. With Spain seeking a place in the semifinals, Friday’s clash against Belgium could provide the teenager with an opportunity to rediscover his scoring touch and play a decisive role in another major knockout match.

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