Spain’s young sensation Lamine Yamal has been cautioned that his journey to superstardom is far from complete, despite his rapid rise with Barcelona. Argentina legend Mario Kempes has thrown down a challenge to the teenager, urging him to replicate his domestic brilliance on the grandest stage — the World Cup — if he truly wants to join football’s elite alongside Lionel Messi and other legends.

Kempes sets a high benchmark

Although the footballing world has been fascinated by the 18-year-old winger’s meteoric rise, Kempes has insisted that the World Cup presents a completely different level of test compared to La Liga. The 1978 World Cup champion believes that true greatness is only achieved when a player can lift his country on the sport’s biggest stage.

Speaking about Yamal’s performances for La Roja, Kempes said: “He needs to prove that [he is a superstar]. In Barcelona, we’ve all seen it already, but let’s see it in the World Cup. That’s where the value of the big players shows.” The former Argentina striker stressed that the intense pressure of knockout football is what separates good players from the truly great ones.

Balancing club and country expectations

Kempes went on to explain the difference between playing for a well-drilled club side like Barcelona and leading a national team. He pointed out that the comfort and rhythm of club football can hide certain weaknesses, which are often revealed in a month-long tournament such as the World Cup.

“The World Cup isn’t like playing with the team, as many who played in Barcelona did. We know Barcelona players on the international level through the Champions League, but this is the World Cup,” Kempes added. Despite acknowledging these challenges, Austria coach Ralf Rangnick recently suggested that Yamal could reach Messi’s level if he remains physically fit and mentally focused.

Spain searching for leadership

Spain have already sealed their place in the knockout rounds, yet questions linger over their attacking sharpness. After a subdued showing against Uruguay, many critics have called for an on-field leader to emerge. Kempes believes Yamal could grow into that role but also identified another Barcelona star as Spain’s true engine under Luis de la Fuente.

“I think Yamal can be that big reference for Spain, but there’s more. Pedri is the one who dictates the game’s pace, he’s a midfield reference, and the player who holds the ball for Spain,” said Kempes. The spotlight is now on Yamal to deliver a defining performance, particularly after he announced Spain’s “arrival” with his goal against Saudi Arabia earlier in the group stage.

Managing fitness and rhythm

Yamal’s World Cup journey has been influenced by his recovery from a long-term injury sustained late in the domestic season. Spain’s coaching staff have managed his playing time carefully, which has led to some inconsistency in his rhythm — a factor visible in Spain’s group stage draw. With Nico Williams also dealing with fitness issues, the responsibility on Yamal’s young shoulders has grown even heavier.

The teenager has previously described scoring for Spain at the World Cup as a “dream come true,” but the challenge ahead is to sustain that form during the knockout rounds. As La Roja prepare for a demanding path that could potentially end in a dream final against Argentina, all eyes will be on whether Yamal can lead them to glory and meet Kempes’ challenge to prove that he truly belongs among Messi and football’s greatest names.