‘Best in the world’ – Spain star picks Lamine Yamal over Kylian Mbappe ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final
Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe are set to face off in the World Cup semi-finals.
France will take on Spain in an exciting FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 14. Two of the best teams in the expanded 48-team edition of the tournament in North America will face off, but the spotlight will be on the two superstars: Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Mbappe is having a tournament to remember this year. The French forward currently leads the goal contribution charts with eight goals and three assists. His goalscoring exploits have put him head-to-head with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Yamal has also been in fine form down the right flank for Spain. He scored in his first start of the campaign against Saudi Arabia and was exceptional in the quarter-final over Belgium.
The two stars will be key for their respective nations as they vie for a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
Also Read: France vs Spain – Top five encounters between the two European giants
Nico Williams makes Lamine Yamal claim
Mbappe’s incredible scoring rate in the World Cup has led to Les Bleus being picked as the prime favourites to lift their third title. The Real Madrid striker has scored 20 goals in the quadrennial tournament, trailing just Lionel Messi in the all-time list.
La Roja, the reigning European champions, will be the slight underdogs but will look to rely on their stars, like Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal, to overcome Les Bleus. However, the defensive pairing of Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte will need to be at their best to stop the French attack.
Meanwhile, Spanish youngster Nico Williams made an explosive claim ahead of the semi-final clash, labelling international teammate Yamal as the “best” player in the world ahead of Mbappe.
“Kylian Mbappe is a monster, he’s one of the best in the world,” Williams said. “But we also have Lamine Yamal, the best in the world.”
18-year-old Yamal has already cemented his position as one of the finest teenagers in football history, and he won the UEFA European Championship with La Roja two years ago. However, he will need to be at his mercurial best to get the better of the in-form French side.
When is France vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?
The semi‑final is on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on July 15.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.