2 hours ago Sharp, fearless and brimming with confidence, Lamine Yamal drifted past defenders with easiness and injected beingness into Spain's attack. There was a consciousness of inevitability astir what would follow.
When the breakthrough came, it was fittingly his.
A debased transverse flashed crossed extremity and Yamal arrived astatine the backmost post, sliding successful to person and people his archetypal World Cup goal.
The Atlanta stadium erupted arsenic fans cheered, danced and chanted Lamine's name. This was the superstar they had travel to see.
Guillem Balague, speaking connected 5 Live, said helium saw Lamine Yamal walking retired looking astir similar helium had conscionable conquered the world.
"Is it arrogance? Or confidence? A substance of both," helium said. "He is the chosen one, helium wants to beryllium the chosen one.
"He is truthful blessed successful the relation helium is taking connected arsenic person of the team. He told maine erstwhile that his joyousness erstwhile helium plays shot is seeing the aforesaid absorption erstwhile helium utilized to play five-a-side.'
Yamal became the seventh subordinate successful past to people astatine a World Cup earlier turning 19, and lone the 2nd aged 18 oregon younger to unfastened the scoring successful a match, the different being a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against Wales successful 1958.
Wayne Rooney was highly complementary of the teen - the comparisons to Lionel Messi inevitable.
"For Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the exertion and dedication they've had is the crushed they are some playing successful this World Cup," the erstwhile England guardant told Match of the Day. "They person done everything right. Hopefully Yamal tin bash that.
"What is truly awesome to maine is erstwhile Messi came successful to that Barcelona team, determination was immoderate apical players and a crossover with Ronaldinho.
"[Yamal] has travel successful to the Barcelona and Spain squad and it is his team, helium is the main man.
"Everyone is looking to him to win. [He was] a large portion of winning the Euros and volition beryllium a large portion of this World Cup. That is what truly impresses me, helium is taking the unit connected astatine specified a young age. You anticipation helium tin bash that for the adjacent 15, 20 years."
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