How Lamine Yamal turns Spain World Cup pressure into motivation

In an in‑depth Mundo Deportivo interview, 18‑year‑old Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal opened up about the pressure surrounding Spain’s World Cup hopes, saying that winning makes the criticism hurt less. He explained how personal experiences, teammates and admiration for Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois shape his mindset, while looking ahead to the quarter‑final against Belgium.

During the interview Yamal was asked about the maturity praised by his teammates despite his age. He answered, “I think it’s down to everything I’ve been through, both in football and in my personal life; that makes you mature, it helps you grow.” He added, “When you win, everything hurts less,” highlighting his calm approach to pressure.

When discussing criticism, Yamal noted, “There are two sides: the people who trust you and the people who hope you don’t do well so they can have a go at you.” Although success attracts doubters, he insists on staying focused on the goal of winning, win and win.

Although he recently returned from a two‑month injury lay‑off, Yamal said he feels his best performance is still ahead. “I’ve been out of action for nearly two months, and it’s not the same as playing seven matches in a row,” he said, emphasizing the need to keep playing and racking up minutes. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)

Spain’s quarter‑final against Belgium offers another chance for the Barcelona star, but Yamal is already aware of possible tougher opponents. He mentioned the prospect of facing France or Morocco, saying, “We have fond memories of France, and it would be very special for me to play against Morocco.” Lastly, he praised Thibaut Courtois, concluding, “He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I’ll go out there wanting to win and not thinking about any particular player.”