Spain head into their final UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifier against Turkey without the presence of their brightest teenage star, Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old winger was not called up after undergoing an intrusive pubis treatment to address persistent pubalgia, an issue that has limited him for several weeks. His absence is significant despite the standings in Group E already being decided, as Spain continue to prepare meticulously for the upcoming World Cup.
Before the match against Georgia, head coach Luis de la Fuente described how difficult the decision was for the player himself.
“Lamine is sad,” he said. “He was excited to play these games.”
The national team refused to take risks, prioritising his long-term health with the World Cup and Finalissima in mind. Spain, however, have maintained excellent form, defeating Georgia 0–4 in Tbilisi and extending their record-breaking unbeaten run in official matches to 30 games, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres once again decisive.
Away from the immediate sporting context, new revelations have emerged regarding Yamal’s journey before becoming the phenomenon he is today. Journalist Xavi Torres revealed that when Yamal was just 12 years old, Barcelona intervened directly to stabilise his life at a critical moment.
At the time, he was losing essential habits in school, rest, and nutrition while living between his mother’s home in Granollers and his father’s in Rocafonda. Barca normally did not admit players so young from those areas, yet the club made a double exception. Encouraged by then-agent Ivan de la Pena, and supported by Jordi Roura, Xavi Vilajoana, and La Masia director Xavi Martin, the club decided they needed to take him in.
Torres described it simply: “La Masia saved Lamine Yamal.” By giving him structure, guidance, and stability, Barcelona helped him escape an environment where opportunities were scarce.
Within three years, he debuted for the first team, proving just how decisive that intervention had been. Yamal grew up “against the system,” often having to fend for himself, and the club’s support became a turning point that shaped everything he is today.
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Franco Mastantuono also Praised Lamine Yamal
While Yamal manages injury and looks ahead to returning stronger, another teenage star is rising quickly on the opposite side of Spain. Franco Mastantuono has made a sharp impression since arriving at Real Madrid, and his first in-depth interview with the Spanish press revealed a player who speaks with composure far beyond his age.
In one of the interview’s standout moments, Mastantuono reiterated a statement that once shocked Madrid fans: Lionel Messi is, in his eyes, the greatest player in football history. “I’m at the biggest club in the world,” he said, “but the best player in the world is always Messi.” His reasoning is simple — he gets to watch Messi up close with the Argentine national team, calling it a daily lesson and a source of constant admiration.
The comparisons between Mastantuono and Lamine Yamal are inevitable, given their age and star status, but the Argentine was quick to highlight who is ahead for now. “Today, Lamine,” Mastantuono admitted, praising the Barcelona winger’s incredible level.
“He’s [Yamal] showing an incredible level, but I’ve just arrived at Real Madrid, I’m in an adaptation process that I hope will be quick so I can get up to speed in Europe and at Real Madrid,” Mastantuono said, about Yamal. “I hope it’s a long story to tell, with many matches like the last one we played, which was incredible.”
Mastantuono emphasised that he is still adjusting to European football and hopes his own rise at Real Madrid becomes a long, memorable story.
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Pressure, he insisted, is nothing new. Having debuted early at River Plate and now carrying expectations for both Real Madrid and Argentina, he embraces it as part of the journey. Highly self-critical and always looking to improve, he believes every demand—whether from the club, fans, or himself—pushes him closer to fulfilling his vast potential.
Together, Lamine Yamal and Franco Mastantuono represent a new generation of global football talent—two prodigies shaped by different paths, challenges, and environments, yet both destined to define the sport’s future.