De la Fuente praises Lamine Yamal, calling him a 'football genius' destined for greatness

Spain is set to face Uruguay in their final group stage match of the 2026 North American World Cup, with the aim of clinching the top spot in Group H. La Roja currently leads the group with four points, earned from a decisive 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia and a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. Uruguay trails with two points from identical 1-1 and 2-2 draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, respectively.

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He is an 18-year-old boy who is in a period of maturity and growth. He is fortunate to have a unique, sensational talent, one of those destined to be football geniuses, he is a brilliant footballer and one we have rarely seen.

The crucial encounter in Guadalajara will significantly impact both teams' aspirations for advancing to the next round. A key strength for Spain in this match is Lamine Yamal, the team's star player and widely regarded as one of the world's best. Coach Luis de la Fuente lauded the 18-year-old's exceptional talent in a press conference, describing him as a unique and sensational player destined for football greatness.

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He knows how to handle media pressure in an incredibly positive way and is very focused on his path.

Despite Yamal's brilliance, De la Fuente stressed that the young player is still in a period of maturity and growth. He acknowledged Yamal's ability to handle immense media pressure positively and remain focused. The coach expressed his desire to support Yamal's continued development but firmly stated that team benefit remains the priority when deciding on player selection, including whether Yamal will start. "We will evaluate it, it's a matter of time. What I consider most important is the team, that is the priority," De la Fuente said, highlighting team solidarity as a core strength.

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We will evaluate it, it's a matter of time. What I consider most important is the team, that is the priority; we will see if he needs to be given minutes from the start, but always thinking that it will be for the benefit of the team. One of our strengths is teamwork, that solidarity of all the players.