Was injury the reason behind Lamine Yamal's half-time exit against Saudi Arabia?

Spain got their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign back on track with a dominant 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Group H. Teenage star Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal before being substituted at halftime, helping La Roja secure a crucial win and move closer to the knockout stages.

Yamal, making his first start since recovering from a hamstring injury, wasted little time making an impact. The Barcelona winger opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes after finishing a well-worked move involving Mikel Oyarzabal.

Yamal makes his mark on the World Cup

His goal settled Spanish nerves after the team's frustrating goalless draw against Cape Verde in their opening match. Spain quickly seized control and doubled their advantage through Oyarzabal, who later added his second goal of the game to put Saudi Arabia firmly on the back foot.

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By halftime, Spain had built a commanding 3-0 lead, with Yamal and Oyarzabal playing key roles in the attacking display. The performance underlined Spain's quality and highlighted Yamal’s growing influence on the international stage.

Spain eases concerns after Yamal substitution

Both Yamal and Oyarzabal were withdrawn during the interval, leading to concerns among supporters about the teenager’s fitness. However, reports suggested the change was precautionary rather than injury-related, with Spain managing his workload following a recent hamstring issue.

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Spain continued to dominate after the break and added a fourth goal when Saudi defender Hassan Al-Tambakti turned the ball into his own net under pressure. With the contest effectively over, Spain comfortably controlled possession and saw out the remainder of the match.

The victory lifted Spain to four points from two matches and restored confidence within the squad ahead of a crucial final group-stage clash against Uruguay.

For Yamal, the evening marked another milestone in a remarkable young career. The 18-year-old registered his maiden World Cup goal and once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of football’s brightest emerging talents.