Lamine Yamal was absent from Spain’s opening training session in New Jersey, where the World Cup finalists are preparing at the New York Red Bulls’ training base.

Spain arrived in New Jersey a day after defeating France in Tuesday’s semi-final and held a training session on Thursday without Barcelona winger Yamal and Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro.

As reported by AS, both Yamal and Porro missed the session but are still expected to be available for Sunday’s World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

“It’s about managing the players’ workload,” explained journalist Juan Jimenez. Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed that Porro has been experiencing some muscle tightness.

“Regarding Lamine, [De la Fuente] said that he was ‘fine’. However, the toll from the hard-fought encounters with [France defenders Lucas] Digne and Theo Hernandez was noticeable the following day,” Jimenez added.

“Understandable aches and pains after so many challenges. The goal is for number 19, like the rest of the squad, to be as fresh as possible.”

Yamal is expected to start for Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina. The 19-year-old entered the tournament having missed Barcelona’s last six La Liga matches due to a muscle injury and was gradually introduced into his first World Cup campaign.

The 2024 European Championship winner came off the bench as Spain sought a winning goal against Cape Verde in their Group H opener last month and then started the next match against Saudi Arabia, playing 45 minutes.

In that match held in Atlanta, Yamal netted his first World Cup goal — the beginning of a run of seven straight starts in Spain’s victories. He played a key role as the 2010 champions defeated Austria, Portugal, Belgium, and France to reach their second World Cup final.

Yamal, currently ranked no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the world’s most exciting teenage footballers, has been a consistent starter for Spain since making his debut under De la Fuente in September 2023, when he was just 16 years old.

He was the standout performer as Spain lifted the European Championship the following summer, and now he remains one of the marquee figures as the World Cup reaches its climax in New Jersey.

Spain head into the final as favourites — and with good reason.

While Argentina have had to grind out results and overcome difficult moments during the knockout stages, Spain have cruised to the final with the precision and consistency of a well-drilled unit.

After an unexpected goalless draw with Cape Verde in the group stage, Spain won every subsequent match en route to the final with relative ease. Their only goal conceded in the tournament came in the quarter-final against Belgium.

With the squad expected to be at full strength, De la Fuente is likely to stick with his successful formula as Spain aim for another world title on Sunday.