Lamine Yamal scores twice as Spain crush Saudi Arabia 4-0 in World Cup comeback

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9 days · 11 summary articles
Spain’s European champions roared back from their opening blunder at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, dismantling Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta as teenage sensation Lamine Yamal announced himself on football’s biggest stage with a first-half brace that silenced critics and restored belief.
Yamal, 18, needed just 10 minutes of his first World Cup start to score his maiden goal for La Roja, a composed finish after a mazy run that set the tone for a dominant display. Dani Olmo doubled the lead before half-time, while Mikel Oyarzabal added two more in the second period as Spain erased the memory of their shock 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in the tournament opener. The victory, secured in front of a stunned Saudi defence, vaulted Spain to the top of Group H and left them on the brink of the knockout rounds .
“It was a perfect birthday present,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said after celebrating his own milestone, referring to the victory coinciding with his birthday. “We showed the world why we are champions.” The Spanish press echoed his relief, with *El Mundo* declaring the side had “returned to itself” after a sluggish start, while *Der Standard* noted the team had “recovered their old offensive identity” in a performance that left Saudi Arabia “completely overwhelmed” .
Yamal’s arrival in the starting XI was the catalyst. The Barcelona forward, already a Ballon d’Or nominee, seized his opportunity with a clinical finish in the 10th minute, becoming the youngest player to score in a World Cup since Pelé in 1958. His second, a composed finish after a one-two with Ferran Torres, arrived in the 33rd minute, sealing a first-half rout that left Saudi Arabia reeling. Oyarzabal’s two goals in the second half confirmed the rout, though the Saudis’ defensive frailties—exposed repeatedly in the opening 25 minutes—made the scoreline appear kinder than the reality .
The result marked a dramatic turnaround for Spain, who had been widely criticised after their sluggish opening draw. “The team was under pressure, but we responded,” said midfielder Rodri, whose composed distribution anchored the midfield. “We knew we had to show our quality, and we did.” With Uruguay next in a potential group-decider, Spain now face a chance to secure top spot and avoid a potential Round of 16 clash with France or Argentina .
For Saudi Arabia, the defeat was a sobering reminder of the gulf between Europe’s elite and the tournament’s underdogs. Their defence, stretched repeatedly by Spain’s quick transitions, struggled to cope with the pace of Yamal and Torres, while their midfield was overrun by Rodri and Gavi. “We were not at our best,” admitted Saudi captain Salem Al-Dawsari. “But we will learn from this.”
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