Lamine Yamal, star of the Spanish national team, has a chance to make history in a big way, following in the footsteps of Brazilian legend Pelé, after starting in the match against Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Spain will face Belgium shortly at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

Spain's starting lineup includes Lamine Yamal and his Barcelona teammate, defender Pau Cubarsí, both of whom are not yet 20 years old.

According to Opta statistics, Spain is the first team to start two players under 20 in a World Cup quarter-final in 68 years.

The last team to do so was Brazil, against Wales in the 1958 World Cup, where legend Pelé was one of those two players, aged just 17.

In that match, Pelé scored his historic first World Cup goal, leading Brazil to the semi-finals, before completing the journey to the final and winning the title for the first time in history.

Yamal hopes to follow in Pelé's footsteps in his first World Cup by scoring in the quarter-finals, which would be his second goal of the tournament, then leading the team to the semi-finals and ultimately winning the title for the second time in history after 2010.

The last time a team started two teens in a World Cup quarter-final (Brazil, 1958 vs Wales), a 17-year-old Pelé scored his first World Cup goal to send Brazil to the semis.

Spain (Yamal & Cubarsí) are trying for the same while establishing their longest unbeaten run ever (36). pic.twitter.com/uXE4CrS3mg

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 10, 2026