Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has delivered a massive fitness boost ahead of their World Cup opener, confirming that Lamine Yamal is in "perfect condition" to face Cape Verde. The Barcelona sensation suffered a serious injury towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign that threatened to derail his tournament debut, but he has worked hard to recover quicker than expected.

The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be another waypoint on Lamine Yamal's path to becoming a generation-defining superstar, but there is the genuine threat that an injury could deprive the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Spanish wonderkid made everyone sit up and take notice at Euro 2024, and two years on, the 18-year-old seemed primed to seize the limelight once again. But instead, it may well be a waiting game.

Former Real Madrid and Spain defender Michel Salgado has claimed that Lamine Yamal possesses a rare technical quality that draws legitimate parallels with Lionel Messi. Despite the teenager still being in the infancy of his career, Salgado believes the Barcelona starlet has shown the same fearlessness that once defined the Argentine icon.

Former Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has singled out Lamine Yamal as the one player he is most desperate to watch during the 2026 World Cup. The legendary Swede believes the Blaugrana youngster possesses a rare quality that makes him worth the price of admission regardless of the cost.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that Lamine Yamal is available for La Roja’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup despite not being fully fit. The Barcelona star has recently recovered from a hamstring problem, but Spain are prepared to use him if needed as they begin their campaign against Cape Verde.