Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente has described Lamine Yamal as a footballer who was “born for this,” drawing parallels between the Barcelona youngster’s natural brilliance and that of Lionel Messi. As La Roja gear up for the upcoming World Cup, the coach believes the teenager possesses a rare gift found only among football’s true masters.

A remarkable talent made for the grandest stage

After another outstanding season with Barcelona, where he was crowned La Liga’s Player of the Season, Yamal is expected to be at the centre of Spain’s attacking play this summer.

De la Fuente is certain that the young winger’s temperament will help him thrive under pressure, highlighting his exceptional personality as the key reason behind his meteoric rise on the international stage.

“Lamine was born for this. He has a bold personality. Maybe that kind of pressure would crush most people, but these guys are different. How many times have we seen a talented player fade away? Because success in football demands not just skill, but countless other qualities,” De la Fuente told The Guardian.

“Lamine was only 16 during the Euros, he’s 18 now, yet he handles intense media scrutiny and makes very few mistakes. One slip and everyone jumps on it — that’s not right.”

Comparisons with Messi and the touch of divinity

The Spanish coach believes Yamal belongs to a select group of players blessed with extraordinary natural ability, though he cautioned against placing unrealistic expectations on the youngster to replace Messi. Ever since Yamal’s rise to the senior stage, comparisons with the Argentine great have been inevitable, though the teenager has tried to downplay them.

De la Fuente, however, admits that both Yamal and Messi share a unique footballing instinct that only a handful of players possess — the power to transform matches even at a tender age.

“Footballers are incredibly gifted, intelligent individuals. Some are geniuses, and then there are a few who seem touched by God’s wand — and there are very few of those. Lamine, Messi...”

A recently resurfaced photograph of Messi and Yamal has gone viral, showing a young Messi holding baby Yamal during a charity calendar shoot years ago.

“Maybe Messi held many babies,” De la Fuente joked. “Maybe it’s coincidence. But for those of us who believe in something greater, coincidence is just God’s way of staying anonymous. I truly believe everything in life happens for a reason.”

Yamal’s race to full fitness

De la Fuente has offered encouraging news about Yamal’s recovery as Spain prepare for their World Cup 2026 journey. The Barcelona starlet had been dealing with a hamstring issue that raised concerns about his availability for the tournament opener in North America, but recent updates suggest he is recovering faster than expected.

Discussing his progress, De la Fuente said he was upbeat yet careful about rushing the youngster back. “He’s improving quickly, hitting all his recovery milestones ahead of schedule,” he stated. “I believe he’ll be ready for the opening game, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll play. We’ll assess whether he should play a bit, sit out, or wait for the second match.”

Spain’s group stage journey

Spain enter the World Cup as one of the main favourites, but their first challenge will be navigating a tricky group phase. They kick off against Cape Verde on June 15, followed by a clash with Saudi Arabia on June 21, and will close the group stage against Uruguay on June 26. Whether Yamal starts from the opening match or is gradually eased in, his presence remains crucial to Spain’s ambitions of reclaiming their place at the summit of world football. The final decision on his role is expected to be made after the last round of training sessions.