Real Madrid legend Raul has said Lamine Yamal will be an important player for Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but refused to call him the lynchpin of the team.
The former Spanish striker believes Yamal needs the support of senior players to shine at the World Cup.
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is widely hailed as the best young player in the world. He is a two-time Kopa Trophy winner, came second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or race, and has already broken several records.
At 18, Yamal has outshone Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, with him registering more goal involvements than the two superstars combined.
Lamine Yamal: “It’s best not to compare yourself to anyone”.
“Players like Cristiano Ronaldo did what they did because they wanted to be themselves and not compare themselves to others”.
“I want to build my own path”. pic.twitter.com/erfd0Q4DYU
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 28, 2025
Many are backing Yamal to lead Spain by example at the 2026 World Cup. However, Raul does not want to put the 18-year-old under so much pressure.
Raul Explains Why Lamine Yamal Will Not Be Spain’s Lynchpin at World Cup
In an interview with Diario AS, Raul explained why Lamine Yamal will not be the star man for Spain at the World Cup.
He praised Yamal’s ability but urged more senior players to step up and not put him under pressure to win every match for La Roja.
“We all know he’s going to be an important player, but Lamine isn’t going to be the lynchpin of the national team,” said Raul.
“There are more experienced players who need to support him so he can be the star on the pitch and take the pressure off him to be the one who saves us every game.”
Lamine Yamal was awarded Best Forward at the 2025 Globe Soccer Awards pic.twitter.com/4BuAXKXCra
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 28, 2025
He added:
“We have to give him his space. He has a lot of talent and is very young, and he’s shown that at his club and with Spain. I remember the first time I saw him play live was at the Bernabeu in the friendly against Brazil, and he was truly on another level.
“But he’s going through an adaptation process in his own way. I think he still has things to refine. It’s clear that if he performs well, he’ll help us get closer to fulfilling our dream of winning our second World Cup.”
Yamal enjoyed an excellent tournament for Spain at the 2024 European Championship. He scored one goal and provided four assists, helping La Roja become the first team to win four EUROs.
Yamal won the Young Player of the Tournament award, making him the youngest player to win a major international trophy at just 17 days and 1 day old.
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