Lamine Yamal, widely regarded as one of the most promising young footballers of his generation, is preparing for his first appearance at a FIFA World Cup. The Barcelona winger is aiming to make an impact on the global stage while pursuing a series of historic milestones during his debut tournament.
Yamal is set to turn 19 during the course of the current World Cup. However, his participation in Spain’s opening match remains uncertain due to a minor injury issue that has kept him out of action in recent days.
In an interview given to FIFA, the Spanish international spoke about his ambitions ahead of the tournament. His comments included references to both individual records and collective success with the Spain national team.
One of the records relevant to Yamal’s prospects involves his Barcelona teammate Gavi. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Gavi scored against Costa Rica, becoming Spain’s youngest-ever goalscorer and the third-youngest goalscorer in World Cup history. Gavi was 18 years and 110 days old at the time. Yamal now has the possibility of becoming the second-youngest Spanish goalscorer in World Cup history if he finds the net during the tournament.
Yamal also discussed this record in a light-hearted manner, referring to conversations with Gavi. He stated: “Since winning the Euro, Gavi often jokes that this is the only record I will never take away from him. So I have to do something bigger and better than him. That is, to be the youngest Spanish player in the World Cup to score a hat-trick.”
He added: “If I manage to score a second goal in a match, I might celebrate by paying tribute to Gavi, because he has scored one goal in the World Cup (laughs). But my main objective will be three goals, a hat-trick.”
Spain’s World Cup history shows that only two players have ever scored a hat-trick in the tournament for the national side. Emilio Butragueño scored four goals against Denmark in the round of 16 of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Michel later scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over South Korea at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Neither of these players achieved their hat-tricks before the age of 25. As a result, if Yamal were to achieve such a feat at the age of 19, it would represent a significant statistical milestone in Spain’s World Cup history.
The key records and references mentioned in the report are summarised below:
| Player | Achievement | Tournament | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gavi | Youngest Spain World Cup goalscorer | 2022 World Cup | 18 years 110 days |
| Emilio Butragueño | Four goals vs Denmark | 1986 World Cup | Over 25 |
| Michel | Hat-trick vs South Korea | 1990 World Cup | Over 25 |
| Lamine Yamal | Target: World Cup hat-trick | Current World Cup | 19 years |
Beyond individual milestones, Yamal has also expressed his focus on team success. He stated his hope that Spain will win the World Cup. He described the prospect of lifting the trophy and celebrating with supporters in Spain as a defining moment in his career.