Lamine Yamal continued to consolidate his dominance over Kylian Mbappé after leading Spain to a 2-0 victory over France in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, adding another win to his head-to-head record against the French star at both club and international level.
Yamal raised his tally to 9 wins in 11 direct meetings with Mbappé, compared to just 2 wins for the French forward, in a sequence spanning Spain–France clashes as well as Barcelona's matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
This superiority reflects a striking aspect of the young Spanish player's career: he has grown accustomed to making a decisive impact in major matches, while Mbappé has struggled to tip the balance in most of their encounters.
Yamal played a prominent role in Spain's victory over France in the World Cup semi-final, winning the penalty from which the first goal was scored, having a goal disallowed for offside, and posing a constant threat to the French defence with his movement throughout the match.
Mbappé, meanwhile, was unable to leave his customary mark despite having several chances, as France were eliminated from the tournament. Yamal continued to write a new chapter in his direct rivalry with the French attack leader, once again affirming his superiority over one of the world's most prominent footballers.