Spain's young star Lamine Yamal appears to have become the face of fortune for La Roja, having compiled a perfect record with his country in major tournaments.
Yamal has cemented his place as one of the most prominent stars of the Spanish national team. Despite his young age, he is set to appear in his third major tournament final at just 19 years old, having already featured in the UEFA Euro 2024 final and the UEFA Nations League 2025 final, and now preparing for the 2026 World Cup final.
Yamal has achieved a 100% win rate when starting for Spain in the two biggest competitions — the World Cup and the European Championship — having won all 12 matches in which he started for the Matador. That is the best such record of any European player in the history of both competitions combined.
The latest chapter in Yamal's remarkable record came as he helped lead Spain to the 2026 World Cup final following a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-final. He had a clear impact on the match, winning the penalty from which Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring, before Pedro Porro added the second goal.
The Barcelona winger has become an indispensable element in coach Luis de la Fuente's lineup, having played a pivotal role in Spain's triumph at UEFA Euro 2024 before continuing his influential presence at the 2026 World Cup, where he scored his first goal in the global tournament and guided his country's journey to the final.
Throughout the current tournament, Yamal's contributions have not been limited to goals; he has stood out with his dribbling skills, chance creation, and his ability to attract defensive attention, making him one of the key attacking weapons for Spain, who reached the final having established themselves as the tournament's strongest side both defensively and offensively.
Yamal's unbeaten record in matches he starts in major tournaments reflects his growing influence within the Spanish national team, and reinforces his image as a lucky charm for La Roja at a time when the side is closing in on reclaiming the World Cup title for the second time in its history.