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Lamine Yamal has delivered a bold message to Spain’s World Cup opponents, asserting that Didier Deschamps’ France are no stronger than La Roja. The Barcelona prodigy is brimming with confidence as the tournament advances into the knockout phase, confidently predicting that he will lift the World Cup trophy in North America.

Yamal confident Spain can rule the world

The young Barcelona forward has his eyes firmly fixed on the ultimate prize, rejecting suggestions that other national teams possess greater quality than Luis de la Fuente’s men. Despite Spain’s mixed showings during the group stage, the 18-year-old is convinced that the squad has the ability and determination required to capture their second world crown.

France dismissed as favourites for the title

Although France have been widely regarded as front-runners following an impeccable group stage, Yamal remains unfazed by the 2018 World Cup champions. He referred to Spain’s victory over Les Bleus during their triumphant Euro 2024 campaign as proof that the French side should not be considered superior to their European rivals.

Commenting on the attention surrounding Kylian Mbappe and his teammates, Yamal told COPE’s Tiempo de Juego: “There’s no team that can’t be beaten. France are not better than us; they haven’t defeated us since the European Championship. There’s no favourite. Nobody is ahead of us... When a competition begins, I believe I’m going to win. That’s what I’m thinking right now. I believe I’m going to win the World Cup.”

Yamal makes a personal World Cup promise

Though often described as mature beyond his years on the field, Yamal revealed a composed and focused mindset when discussing the emotions of the tournament. He admitted that while he has shed tears over injuries or family matters in the past, he expects to remain composed even if Spain claim football’s greatest honour.

When asked how he would react to winning the final, Yamal made a firm promise: “I never get emotional, I don’t cry. I cried when I got injured, when I saw my mother cry. If I win the World Cup, I won’t cry — it’s impossible.”

When questioned about whether he would mark the achievement in another way, he explained: “I can’t get a tattoo because I’m Muslim, but I wouldn’t tattoo anyone anyway.”

Eyes on the knockout stages

Spain have faced some criticism for their performances in North America, but Yamal insists that the true test begins now. He emphasised that at this stage, results matter more than style, although he remains confident that Spain’s performance levels will rise as the pressure mounts in the knockouts.

“People say we can play better, but we’re focused on staying calm, winning first, and then improving,” Yamal said. “We can get better; we are much stronger than what we’ve shown so far, but I just want to win. You need to play well and win. We must have faith. The group stage doesn’t mean anything now.”

La Roja will be looking to step up their game when they take on Austria in the Round of 32. If they advance, a potential semi-final meeting with France could await — a stage where Yamal’s confident words may face their ultimate test.