Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona and Spain winger, has confirmed that scoring a goal in his first World Cup 2026 match carries a very special significance, after he helped Spain to a convincing 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia this evening, noting that he had always dreamed of playing in the World Cup.
On his feelings after scoring his first World Cup goal, Yamal said: "It is a very special feeling. I always dreamed of playing in the World Cup and of scoring in my first match as well. It is a dream come true, because I watched the last edition of the World Cup while I was still in the classroom."
Yamal started against Saudi Arabia in his first World Cup appearance, opened the scoring early, and confirmed his full recovery from the physical problems that had kept him off the pitch in recent weeks.
The player said in statements to Spanish television after the match: "I am very happy for Mikel Oyarzabal and the goals he scored. The victory was very important, and that is what we had to achieve."
He added: "I was very eager to return to training and play matches after being away for a long time. I needed to feel the pitch again, and I felt great happiness alongside my teammates. Now we focus on the next match against Uruguay."
Yamal explained that Spain's strong start was no coincidence, saying: "We had a clear plan. We pressed them from the beginning because we wanted to settle things quickly. We wanted to finish the match from the first half."
He also praised his relationship with coach Luis de la Fuente, stressing: "The final decision belongs to the coach, but he asked me about my readiness and I told him I was ready to play. I will always give everything I have for the Spanish national team."