Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has cemented his status as the ultimate nightmare for the French national team. By winning the crucial penalty that opened the scoring in Spain’s 2-0 victory over France at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the youngster completed a trilogy of decisive semi-final triumphs against Les Bleus.
A History of Torturing Les Bleus: Three Goals in Two Games
Prior to the Dallas clash, France was already Yamal’s favorite international victim, having conceded three goals to him in just two matches—both ending in French elimination at the semi-final stage:
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Euro 2024 Semi-Final (July 9, 2024): With Spain trailing 1-0 in Munich, Yamal scored a sensational long-range equalizer past Mike Maignan in the 21st minute. The strike made him the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history and was voted the Goal of the Tournament by UEFA.
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Nations League Semi-Final (June 5, 2025): In Stuttgart, Yamal tormented the French defense again. He assisted Nico Williams for the opener and scored twice (including a penalty) in a thrilling 5-4 victory.
Dallas: Making an Impact Without Scoring
While Yamal did not score a fourth goal against Mike Maignan in Dallas, he produced the game’s defining moment. In the 22nd minute, French left-back Lucas Digne fouled him inside the box, prompting referee Ivan Barton to award a penalty, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted. Pedro Porro later sealed the 2-0 win in the 58th minute.
It was an eventful night for the winger, who turned 19 on Monday; he missed a one-on-one opportunity in the 50th minute and had a Spain goal ruled out for offside in the 61st minute.
A Near-Perfect International Record
At just 19 years old, Yamal boasts an extraordinary record with La Roja. Across his first 31 international appearances, he has recorded 23 wins, 7 draws, and only one defeat. Remarkably, Spain has never lost a major tournament match that Yamal has started.
Although he entered the 2026 World Cup semi-finals without a goal or assist, his Player of the Match performance against Belgium in the quarter-finals and his game-changing penalty win against France prove his immense influence transcends basic statistics.
