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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente hails Barcelona star after Portugal heroics: ‘One of his best matches’
Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal earned special praise from Spain manager Luis de la Fuente after La Roja secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Spain booked their place in the quarter-finals following a tense encounter that lived up to expectations, with both sides battling until the final whistle.
While Yamal was unable to produce his usual individual brilliance on a consistent basis, his overall contribution left a major impression on his national team coach.
A tough game for both sides
Spain were pushed to their limits by Portugal in what many considered one of the standout fixtures of the knockout rounds.
Reflecting on the contest, De la Fuente admitted that his side had to suffer before eventually securing qualification.
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Lamine Yamal could not score against Portugal. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
The Spain boss explained the intensity of the occasion, saying,
“It was a fantastic match between two super teams. As we said beforehand, it was a final before the final, and as expected, we suffered until the very end.
“Both teams showed their desire to win, we put on a great show, with all the agony of these big matches, resolved brilliantly at the last minute.”
De la Fuente highlights Yamal’s influence
As far as Yamal is concerned, the Barcelona winger spent much of the evening engaged in a demanding duel with Portugal full-back Nuno Mendes.
The battle between the two players became one of the defining aspects of the match, with Yamal constantly testing the defender’s resilience on the right flank.
Although the teenager found little space to showcase his dribbling ability, his movement and relentless pressing created problems throughout the encounter.
Many observers felt that Nuno Mendes had succeeded in limiting Lamine Yamal’s influence, but De la Fuente strongly disagreed with that assessment.
“Lamine Yamal did not struggle against Nuno Mendes. I think he’s played one of his best matches.
“It’s a very important day for his development. Nuno Mendes’ injury is surely down to the pressure Lamine put him under. He’s done a spectacular job.
“He’s struck fear into the opposition. It’s one of the best matches of Lamine’s career so far… And there’s still plenty more to come. Because we need him to keep developing,” he explained.
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