Wayne Rooney delivered glowing praise for Lamine Yamal after the Barcelona prodigy inspired Spain to a commanding 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia at the 2026 World Cup. The teenage star netted his maiden World Cup goal inside 10 minutes, leaving the Manchester United legend deeply impressed by his all-round display before being substituted at half-time.

Yamal shines on the world stage

After being restricted to just 19 minutes in Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde due to fitness precautions, Yamal was handed a place in the starting XI on Sunday. The 18-year-old winger wasted no time, opening the scoring within 10 minutes to set Spain on their way to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. It was his first ever World Cup goal, taking his international total to seven goals from 27 appearances.

Yamal was withdrawn at the interval with Spain already 3-0 ahead—a decision he later confirmed had been planned in advance to manage his workload. Acting as a pundit, Rooney could not contain his admiration for the young forward, emphasising the extraordinary influence he brings to the team.

Rooney’s effusive admiration

The former Manchester United and England striker expressed his delight while analysing Yamal’s exceptional performance, noting how the youngster combines joy with maturity beyond his years. “Do you know what, I absolutely love him, he just makes me smile. The enjoyment and fun he plays with,” Rooney said on BBC. “What he does for that Spain team—there are a lot of young players there—and he gives them that confidence. They won the Euros with him as a 16-year-old, and now he’s developed as a player, which sounds crazy to say about an 18-year-old, but he gives every other player on that pitch for Spain the belief that they can go on and win this World Cup.”

Leading from the front for Spain

Rooney was equally impressed by Yamal’s defensive contribution, praising his willingness to track back and support his team. “When you’ve got that in you—to make other players feel better on the pitch—it’s incredible to have that as an 18-year-old,” he continued. “Him running back and helping his team out. When you have a big player willing to run back and put in the work, the effect it has on the rest of the team is huge. They see that and think, ‘we’ve got a superstar running back to defend,’ which means everyone else has to follow suit, whether they like it or not.”

What lies ahead for Yamal?

With this emphatic victory, Spain have moved to the top of Group H and will look to maintain their strong momentum. Yamal and his teammates now turn their focus to their crucial upcoming clash against Uruguay on Saturday, June 27—a match that could determine who finishes at the summit of the group.