Lamine Yamal scored for the third Spain game in a row, curling a shot into the top corner in a 3-1 win over Czechia that left his own coach holding his head. The 19-year-old Barcelona winger has 12 goals for club and country since the end of August.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal is on the path to becoming a legend, after the Barcelona winger scored again in a 3-1 UEFA Nations League win over Czechia, ESPN reported.
The match was played on Saturday, October 3.
The Goal
Yamal, 19, opened the scoring in the sixth minute. He cut inside on to his left foot and curled the ball into the top corner.
On the touchline, de la Fuente put both hands on his head and turned to his bench in disbelief.
“Lamine never stops surprising us — all of us,” the coach said afterwards.
“He has so much talent and so much quality. He still has a lot to offer us, too, and there is a long way to go until we see the best Lamine.”
The Numbers
- Four goals in three games for Spain during the international break
- The first time he has scored in three successive games for his country
- 12 goals and 19 goal contributions for club and country since August 31
According to ESPN, that last figure is the most by any player from a club in Europe’s top five leagues over that period.
He has also made a habit of scoring early. He had scored in the second minute against both England and Croatia in the preceding days.
The Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or will be awarded later this month, and Yamal is a leading contender.
“If he was the only Spanish player nominated for the Ballon d’Or, I would say yes, he’s best in the world,” de la Fuente said. “He does everything well.”
The Match
Yamal was taken off at half-time with Spain 2-0 up. His Barcelona team-mate Rodri had scored the second.
Spain were less convincing without him. Jiri Sláma pulled a goal back for Czechia, who then had a player sent off, before Mikel Merino sealed the win late on.
“The first half went very well, but the second didn’t,” de la Fuente admitted.
Managing His Minutes
Yamal was the only Spain player to start all three matches that week. De la Fuente has said separately that he is watching the teenager’s playing time closely.
The win moved Spain three points clear of England at the top of Nations League Group A3.
Image: Lamine Yamal playing for Spain in July 2026. Photo by Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
