A Former Teammate of Lamine Yamal Acknowledges That He Has Not Shown His Best Version in the World Cup

Lewandowski sincere and critical, Yamal did not shine in the World Cup, although Spain still lifted the cup.

Lewandowski sincere about Yamal

Robert Lewandowski, now a player for Chicago Fire in MLS, surprised with a reflection on his former Barcelona teammate, Lamine Yamal. In a conversation with ESPN, the Polish forward acknowledged that the young Spanish player did not reach his peak level during the 2026 World Cup, although he still celebrated the title won by La Roja. "Honestly, no, we didn't see his best version. For me, the best Lamine was two seasons ago. He arrived at the World Cup after an injury and without rhythm, it's difficult to perform like that. But he showed quality and the team helped him, and he also helped the team. That cooperation was perfect," he stated.

Spain champions with a defensive record

Spain was crowned world champion for the second time after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final held in New Jersey, with a goal from Ferran Torres in extra time. Luis de la Fuente's team had a historic campaign with 38 unbeaten matches and only one goal conceded in eight games, an absolute record for a world champion. In that context, Yamal was present in all the matches, seven of them as a starter, despite arriving with a hamstring injury that had sidelined him from the final stretch of the season with Barça. His contribution was modest with one goal against Saudi Arabia and no assists, although he created seven dangerous chances.

Future and present of the figures

The statistics reinforce the contrast in the 2025-26 campaign, Yamal participated in 41 goals (24 goals and 17 assists) in 45 matches, even surpassing his numbers from the previous season. However, in the World Cup, he failed to carry that brilliance. Lewandowski, who left Barcelona as a free agent and now competes in the Eastern Conference of the MLS, confessed that he supported Spain during the tournament: "I know many players from the national team, I spent a lot of time with them. It was easier to cheer them on. I knew they were ready to win the World Cup. They are very young and have the whole future ahead of them." The Polish player's honesty opens up a debate: Was Yamal a victim of physical aftereffects, or did he simply fail to adapt to the tournament's pace? The truth is that, even without his best version, Spain lifted the cup and confirmed that their new generation is ready to make history.