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Spain vs. Belgium player ratings: Live grades for Lamine Yamal, others in 2026 World Cup quarterfinal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Two teams vying for a spot in the last four of the 2026 FIFA World Cup do battle as tournament favorites Spain take on fellow top-10 European side Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday.
Lamine Yamal has yet to fully get into high gear, still less than fully fit thanks to a hamstring injury at the end of the club season. Instead, it has been Spain's back line which has carried them through the tournament, yet to concede a single goal the entire World Cup thus far.
Belgium, meanwhile, are coming off a thorough demolition of co-hosts United States in their stronghold of Seattle, an impressive performance that anoints the Red Devils as dangerous challengers to any World Cup title hopeful.
The Sporting News brings you a full list of player ratings for the match, analyzing both team's individual performances from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.
LIVE:Follow Spain vs. Belgium updates from 2026 World Cup quarterfinal
Spain vs. Belgium live score
Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)
Spain starting lineup:
4-2-3-1, right to left: 23. Simon (GK) — 12. Porro, 22. Cubarsi, 14. Laporte, 24. Cucurella — 16. Rodri, 8. F. Ruiz — 19. Lamine Yamal, 10. Olmo, 15. Baena — 21. Oyarzabal.
Belgium starting lineup:
4-2-3-1, right to left: 1. Courtois (GK) — 21. Castagne, 25. Ngoy, 4. Mechele, 5. De Cuyper — 23. Raskin, 20. Vanaken — 11. Doku, 7. De Bruyne, 10. Trossard — 17. De Ketelaere.
Spain player ratings vs. Belgium
All ratings are on a 10-point scale.
Starters
Goalkeeper: Unai Simon — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right-back: Pedro Porro — Grade pending
Extremely active early, helping fill the gap with Lamine Yamal struggling. He was strong defending Jeremy Doku, and also managed to get forward and provide service into the final third.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right Center-back: Pau Cubarsi — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left center-back: Aymeric Laporte — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left-back: Marc Cucurella — Grade pending
Hardly had any defending to do for much of the first half, with Leandro Trossard completely nullified. Cucurella used that chance to bomb forward andget in on the action early and often.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Rodri — Grade pending
Looked back to his best early on, ushering possession forward on all areas of the pitch. Even got himself involved in front of goal as his 10th-minute shot was heroically blocked.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Fabian Ruiz — Grade pending
The PSG man started in place of Pedri, a big call by head coach Luis de la Fuente. The drop-off in talent was clear early on, as Ruiz was not nearly as influential as Pedri normally is through the first quarter of the match, and his entry passes through the middle were way off target.
However, he managed to get on the scoresheet, with good instincts to pounce on the open space that he filled after Dani Olmo's shot was saved.
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This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right wing: Lamine Yamal — Grade pending
Was very poor early on, lacking his normal influence on the match with only eight touches through the first 15 minutes of the game. He was less than accurate on his crosses and switches too, as he flew one way over the head of Marc Cucurella in the 17th minute and then couldn't turn effectively between two defenders. Missed wide with a left-footed curler after cutting inside, which is usually his bread and butter.
Started to cook a little once Spain went in front, and won a free-kick which he put on target in the 35th minute that forced a good save out of Thibaut Courtois.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Attacking midfielder: Dani Olmo — Grade pending
Was very good both in possession and in the build-up, often dropping back deep to do some of the on-ball work that Pedri normally would if he were in the lineup, since Ruiz was struggling.
Had the initial shot which resulted in the opening goal by Fabian Ruiz.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left wing: Alex Baena — Grade pending
Good ball progression early on, and provided some end product too, even if Belgium did well to keep Spain out of the penalty area.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Striker: Mikel Oyarzabal — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Spain substitutes vs. Belgium
This section will be updated later in the match when substitutes enter off the bench and look to make an impact.
Spain coach vs. Belgium
Luis de la Fuente: Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis and commentary after the match has concluded and a proper assessment of the head coach's tactics and substitutions can be made.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:
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- Expert picks for World Cup quarterfinals
- Ranking World Cup teams remaining 1-8
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Belgium player ratings vs. Spain
Starters
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois — Grade pending
Made a good save on Dani Olmo's 30th-minute shot, but parried it into space where Fabian Ruiz was able to get onto the ball first.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right-back: Timothy Castagne — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right center-back: Nathan Ngoy — Grade pending
Very good early in the match as a last-ditch defender, making two blocks in the first 20 minutes of the match, including on Rodri's open look
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left center-back: Brandon Mechele — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left-back: Maxime De Cuyper — Grade pending
Very strong defending Lamine Yamal early in the game.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Nicolas Raskin — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Central midfielder: Hans Vanaken — Grade pending
Youri Tielemans was supposed to start in midfield for Belgium, but picked up an injury during warmups, forcing Hans Vanaken into the middle of the pitch.
Completely invisible through the opening 25 minutes of the match, with only six touches.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Right wing: Jeremy Doku — Grade pending
Active early in the match trying to get Belgium out of jail dribbling through midfield. Forced to do a lot of defending, and had the foul on Lamine Yamal at the top of the penalty area that gave Spain a good chance 34 minutes in.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Attacking midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne — Grade pending
Didn't have a single touch in the attacking side of the pitch through 30 minutes of the game, which saw Belgium pinned back in their own defensive half for much of the first half.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Left wing: Leandro Trossard — Grade pending
A complete non-factor through the first half-hour, with only four touches and two passes.
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Striker: Charles De Ketelaere — Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.
Belgium substitutes vs. Spain
This section will be updated later in the match when substitutes enter off the bench and look to make an impact.
Belgium coach vs. Spain
Rudi Garcia: Grade pending
This section will be updated with analysis and commentary after the match has concluded and a proper assessment of the head coach's tactics and substitutions can be made.
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