Spain secured their first World Cup victory. And they did so in commanding fashion. The Spanish national team beat Saudi Arabia 4–0 and are well on their way to qualifying from Group H.

Luis de la Fuente’s side dominated the match from start to finish. It was practically a one-sided affair for the ‘Reds’. They displayed a very high level of team play and left a great impression.

Mikel Oyarzabal was one of the standout performers. The forward was unstoppable in the box and scored a brace in the space of three minutes to put the result beyond doubt. However, the spotlight was once again on Lamine Yamal.

The winger made his first-ever start at the World Cup, and needed no time to settle in… He scored his first goal of the tournament following a superb team move 10 minutes into the first half.

Lamine had a strong first half, during which he was very active, but the manager decided to substitute him at half-time to manage his workload. Nevertheless, his impact on the match was crucial.

Yamal is progressing at a pace never before seen in modern football. His youth contrasts with his maturity on the pitch. With less than a month to go before his 19th birthday, his career path is far from typical for someone of his age.

To be more specific, if we look back at his achievements over the years, we can see that his development and impact are not typical of a teenager who has only just come of age.

Lamine Yamal’s incredible achievements in his short career:

- Aged 15: He made his professional football debut with FC Barcelona.

- Aged 16: He became an undisputed first-team regular and a key player for both his club and the Spanish national team.

- Aged 17: He was crowned European Championship winner. He finished as the tournament’s top assist provider and was named Young Player of the Tournament. He also won the domestic treble with Barça.

- Aged 18: He inherited the legendary number 10 shirt at FC Barcelona. He is a three-time La Liga champion and was among the frontrunners in the latest Ballon d'Or poll. He also made history by becoming the only footballer to win the Kopa Trophy twice (2024 and 2025).

- A few weeks before turning 19: He made his debut as a starter and scored his first goal at a World Cup.

The elite club: The historical comparison

Scoring at a World Cup before the age of 20 is a rarity reserved for the very few. Lamine Yamal’s goal (just weeks before his 19th birthday) places him in a very exclusive statistical pantheon.

To be precise, thanks to this goal against Saudi Arabia, Lamine Yamal becomes the eighth-youngest player to score in World Cup history.

At 18 years and 343 days old, the Spanish winger displaces none other than Lionel Messi, who scored his first World Cup goal in 2006 at the age of 18 years and 357 days.

Here is the ranking of the youngest goalscorers in World Cup history:

1) Pelé — 17 years and 239 days
2) Manuel Rosas — 18 years and 93 days
3) Gavi — 18 years and 110 days
4) Ibrahim Mbaye — 18 years and 142 days
5) Michael Owen — 18 years and 190 days
6) Nicolae Kovacs — 18 years and 197 days
7) Dmitri Sychev — 18 years and 231 days
8) Lamine Yamal — 18 years and 343 days
9) Lionel Messi — 18 years and 357 days

It is extremely curious that Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, of all people, both scored their first World Cup goal at the age of 18, just before turning 19. Such are the coincidences of life.

Will Lamine Yamal continue to make history at this World Cup?

Only time will tell...