All eyes are on the anticipated semifinal clash between France and Spain at the 2026 World Cup, where Kylian Mbappé faces a special test against Lamine Yamal, as the young Spanish star has established his superiority over the French captain in several decisive encounters in recent times.

Mbappé, who will lead France in Tuesday’s match in Dallas, aims to end a series of negative results against Yamal, as statistics show that the French striker has failed to get the better of the Spanish player in five knockout clashes, whether at international or club level.

Related news

Yamal’s first upper hand over Mbappé came with Spain in the Euro 2024 semifinal, when La Roja defeated France 2-1. The scenario repeated in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal, with Spain winning 5-4. The dominance extended to club level, as Mbappé struggled during his time at Real Madrid against Barcelona, Yamal’s team, losing three finals: the 2025 Copa del Rey final and the last two Spanish Super Cup editions. However, one encounter remains a different memory for Mbappé: with Paris Saint-Germain, he eliminated Barcelona, led by Yamal, in the 2023-24 Champions League quarterfinals, securing his only knockout win against the Spanish star. The French captain hopes the World Cup semifinal will be an opportunity to regain his edge and lead his country to the final, while Yamal aims to continue his impressive record against Mbappé and help Spain reach the World Cup final.