Lamine Yamal was awarded Man of the Match after contributing to Spain's 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, but his performance remains a topic of debate as he has not displayed the dazzling form he usually shows with Barcelona.

Yamal entered the tournament with a lack of physical readiness, prompting the Spanish coaching staff to give him gradual playing time during the group stage before he regained full fitness at the start of the knockout rounds.

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Despite winning the Man of the Match award, several analysts believe the young winger has not yet reached his best level. Former Spanish international César Azpilicueta said during his analysis on the BBC: 'Lamine has not yet given his best; he has greater potential and needs to move better to make a difference.' In a related context, the newspaper El Español revealed a reason that may have a psychological impact on the player: the absence of his father, Mounir Nasraoui, from supporting him in World Cup matches, despite his constant presence at Barcelona games and major events. The newspaper, quoting a close associate of the player's father, said that Nasraoui did not travel to the United States due to health conditions related to his epilepsy seizures, which leads him to avoid long flights and constant travel, according to medical advice. On the other hand, Yamal receives family support in the stands from his mother, Sheila Ebana, his brother Ken, and his girlfriend Inés García, who have been supporting him throughout Spain's campaign in the tournament. The 18-year-old aims to lead Spain to the World Cup title in his first participation in the tournament, but the upcoming task will not be easy, as 'La Roja' faces a strong match against France in the semi-finals. @hussain_altaie