‘The real Lamine Yamal’ – Spain boss reveals how World Cup 2026 made Barcelona star ‘a better player and person’

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has revealed how World Cup 2026 has transformed Barcelona star Lamine Yamal into a better player and person. De la Fuente stated that many people do not truly know Yamal, and he is a fantastic team player who makes his teammates' lives easier. He criticized those who question Yamal's ego, explaining that everyone has an ego as long as it is directed towards the team's collective goal.

The coach emphasized the importance of selecting players with the right profile to create a cohesive team, highlighting how Yamal, now 19, has benefited from the World Cup experience. De la Fuente also mentioned that Yamal looks up to older players in the Spain squad, such as Jesus Navas and Oyarzabal, and has grown into a better team member and person as a result of the tournament.

The coach revealed that World Cup participation has made Yamal a better player and person, and he expects him to continue developing into a world-class player. Spain will play their next match as a team, facing England in the Nations League at Wembley.