Yamal breaks historic records as Spain dominate in Seville

Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for Spain in the early moments of the clash against Croatia in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League 2026/27, played on September 29, 2026 at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville. The Barcelona forward scored in the second minute, according to the official match report.

Start timeline

Reports differ on the exact minute of the opening goal: some outlets place it in the second minute, others claim it was at 1.13 minutes, and a third source indicates 70 seconds after the initial whistle. Regardless of the calculation, the young winger put the 1‑0 up for the world champions.

Soon after, Yamal was involved again, this time providing an assist to Marc Pubill, who extended the lead to 2‑0. The play emerged from a quick combination in midfield, consolidating Spanish dominance before halftime.

Records and personal figures

With his two goals and an assist, Yamal became the youngest player to achieve that feat for the national team, at 19 years and 78 days, surpassing Raúl and Aritz Etxeberria, who had set the record at 21 years and 273 days. The record was confirmed by analyst MisterChip.

Yamal's show in Seville tilts Spain toward Nations League win

In total, the forward has accumulated 18 goals and assists across all competitions, both with Barcelona and with Spain, in just 10 matches this season. He was substituted in the 68th minute, giving way to Munoz, after a performance that left the crowd and coach Luis de la Fuente satisfied.

Impact and outlook

Yamal's feat is not limited to Croatia; in the first Nations League match against England, he scored at 104 seconds, also finding the net in the early minutes of the game. According to MisterChip, it is the first time in 106 years of history that Spain opens two consecutive matches within the first two minutes, with Yamal as the scorer of both goals.

Lamine Yamal opens scoring as Nations League heats up in Seville

The winger's talent has sparked comparisons with Ballon d'Or contenders, and he himself has expressed his ambition to compete for the award. With Spain already crowned world champion in 2026, the team is shaping up as the favorite in the race for the Nations League title, consolidating its position as the dominant power in international football.