Lamine Yamal shines again as Spain star strengthens his Ballon d’Or case

Lamine Yamal delivered another standout performance for Spain, scoring twice and providing an assist in the 4-1 victory over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.

The Barcelona winger opened the scoring after just 70 seconds at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, giving Spain an early advantage in their first home match since winning the 2026 World Cup. Croatia later equalised through Dion Beljo, but Spain quickly regained control when Marc Pubill converted a chance created by Yamal. 

Yamal then completed his brace in the second half, finding the net again in the 63rd minute with a finish from the right side of the attack. Nico Williams added Spain’s fourth late in the game to complete a 4-1 victory. 

Another big night for Lamine Yamal

The 19-year-old was at the centre of almost everything Spain produced in attack. His two goals and assist meant he was directly involved in three of his team’s four goals.

His first goal came remarkably early, with Yamal scoring after only 70 seconds. According to the Spanish Football Federation, he became the first player to score inside the opening two minutes in two consecutive matches after also finding the net early at Wembley. 

The performance also helped Spain extend their unbeaten run to 40 matches, adding another significant milestone to an already memorable night for the world champions. 

Yamal and the Ballon d’Or race

Yamal’s display came at an important moment in the Ballon d’Or calendar. Voting for the 2026 award had already closed on September 28, meaning his performance against Croatia cannot influence the final votes. 

Nevertheless, the performance adds another highlight to a season in which Yamal has established himself among the leading names in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

When asked whether his display represented another argument for his candidacy, Yamal responded simply: “Another one.” He also stressed after the match that he plays for himself, the supporters and his country rather than focusing solely on the individual award. 

Spain continue their winning momentum

The victory was also significant for Spain as a team. The match marked their first home appearance since lifting the World Cup, with the trophy presented to captain Rodri before kick-off.

Spain now move on to their next Nations League fixture against the Czech Republic on October 3, while attention around Yamal’s Ballon d’Or candidacy will continue until the award ceremony in London on October 26. 

For Yamal, however, the message remains straightforward: keep performing, keep winning and let the final award decision come later.