Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has backed Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal to become a football legend, praising the teenager’s rapid development and growing influence for both club and country.
De la Fuente made the remarks after Yamal scored in Spain’s 3–1 victory over the Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday.
The 19-year-old opened the scoring in the fifth minute at the Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo, continuing his impressive run for the Spanish national team. Rodri and Mikel Merino also scored as Spain secured its third consecutive victory in the current international window.
Speaking after the match, De la Fuente said Yamal’s development had exceeded expectations and suggested that the best of the Barcelona star is yet to come.
“He never stops surprising us. He has so much talent and quality that we still haven’t seen the best version of Lamine,” the Spain coach said.
“He is improving by leaps and bounds. At international level, he is a reference point and a player of great importance. He is on his way to becoming a legendary footballer,” De la Fuente added.
Yamal has been a key figure for Spain during the latest international window. He has scored in each of the team’s last three matches, against England, Croatia and the Czech Republic, contributing four goals and one assist during that run.
De la Fuente has also been managing Yamal’s workload carefully. The forward played 45 minutes against the Czech Republic after featuring for 90 minutes against England and 68 minutes against Croatia.
The Spanish coach said the decision was part of an effort to protect his players during a demanding period, with Spain scheduled to play four matches within 10 days.
“We take care of Lamine just like all the other players. It was planned to give him the least number of minutes possible so that he is in the best condition for Tuesday,” De la Fuente said.
Yamal’s rise has already produced a remarkable list of achievements. Barcelona says he became the club’s youngest first-team player when he made his senior debut in April 2023 at 15 years and 291 days. He has also won major honours with Spain, including Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
UEFA has also highlighted Yamal’s record-breaking international career, including becoming Spain’s youngest player and youngest goalscorer, as well as the youngest player to appear at a European Championship.
The latest praise from De la Fuente adds to the growing recognition surrounding Yamal, who continues to establish himself as one of the most influential young players in international football.
Spain will next face Croatia as the Nations League campaign continues, with De la Fuente expected to continue balancing Yamal’s importance to the team with the need to manage his workload.
