Yamal considers World Cup more important than Champions League or domestic honors

The Athletic analyzed the growth of Spanish player Yamal in recent years and revealed that the player values the World Cup tournament greatly.

In his first major international tournament, Yamal was still a 16-year-old student who even needed to complete homework between matches, and that year Spain eventually won the European Championship.

Yamal had just turned 17 the day before the Euro 2024 final against England, and he was still preparing for his ESO exams in the Spanish education system, equivalent to the UK's GCSE or the US high school diploma level exams.

He had just finished his first full season with the first team at Barcelona, making his debut in April 2023 at the age of 15. That summer, he shone even brighter on a bigger stage – scoring a spectacular goal in the semi-final against France and being named the tournament's best young player.

Two years have passed, and he still wears that mischievous smile and his braces, but his identity has changed. Today, he has become an international superstar.

Yamal became a focal point in several commercial campaigns leading up to the World Cup, appearing alongside actor Timothée Chalamet, Argentine superstar Messi, rapper Bad Bunny, and Real Madrid player Bellingham in Adidas's large promotional lineup.

Last Thursday, he was announced as UNICEF's newest Goodwill Ambassador, following in the footsteps of Messi and Beckham.

This teenager from Rocafonda – an impoverished community in Mataró, the small Catalan coastal town where Yamal grew up – has now entered a completely different level of superstardom. And he is gradually taking control of it all.

During Euro 2024, Yamal carried a backpack filled with homework. When he met up with his Spanish teammates in late May this year, he was wearing Chanel clothing chosen by his private stylist. A pair of limited edition pink Beats headphones, not yet publicly released, hung from the handle of his matching handbag.

Under his social media with 43.3 million followers, Spanish pop singer Rosalía, who has 28 million followers, also liked and commented: "Estilazo (So stylish)."

This is the new Yamal. He is Barcelona's best player, and Spain's best player. For many, he is even the most exciting player at this World Cup – the sport's grandest stage.

Yamal has never hidden himself. Earlier this week, he spoke on his video channel about his decision in 2023 to switch from Nike to Adidas, as he believed it would provide him with a larger platform for his personal brand.

"Nike has Mbappé and Vinicius, and I saw a huge space for me to become the new face of Adidas," he said. "I was 15 at the time. I believed in myself, and it was the best decision."

Yamal has also shown no signs of this attention negatively impacting his game. He finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting in September 2025, only behind PSG's Dembélé, and continues to improve at Barça.

Under Flick's leadership, he has scored 24 goals and provided 18 assists this season, his best season to date.

He has already displayed astonishing individual performances in Barcelona matches, including important games in Euro 2024 and the Champions League.

He has always been a technically gifted winger, silky smooth when dribbling on the right wing, with the ball seemingly glued to his feet. But more critically, his intelligence and decision-making have reached new levels.

His football IQ seems to have no ceiling. He can read every situation in a game and has improved his finishing ability. This makes it almost impossible to set limits for his potential.

"For me, not winning the Ballon d'Or was a good thing," Yamal said in the video. "It helped me continue to grow. Perhaps it wasn't my moment."

Spanish teammate Rodri said in a DAZN interview in May: "He will definitely win the Ballon d'Or in the future. He is already a superstar. It's incredible to think of everything that lies ahead for him. He is not just the future, he is also the present."

In another interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Rodri recalled an incident at a training camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.

As one of the senior players on the team, Rodri organized a team dinner. Yamal approached him to ask for permission not to attend, as he wanted to stay at the hotel to rest and prepare for the World Cup.

"He is very focused. I see him in excellent form," added the Manchester City midfielder.

This also reflects another change.

During Euro 2024, teammates often described Yamal as a somewhat childish but delightful presence – always joking, playful, full of fun, essentially a 16-year-old.

Today's Yamal, however, is significantly more mature. He has a stronger awareness of his situation, enjoys it all, and wants to maximize his performance, but is also calmer; still loves to smile, but is equally focused on training.

"I see him more as a man now, rather than a child," said Spanish and Chelsea defender Cucurella in an interview. "He has had to face many situations from a young age, and he has handled them extremely well. To be honest, I'm not sure if I could have handled it as well as he has. At his age, I was just playing for Barça B, but in my heart, I already felt like a superstar. Every time my friends ask me about Yamal, I tell them he's incredible. Considering he's one of the most famous people in the world at 18, he can't even walk down the street, but the way he handles it all is so natural, I can only admire him."

Yamal suffered a hamstring injury in the home match against Celta on April 22 and has not played for club or country since. Fans across Spain held their breath, and as he limped off the field, there were fears he might miss the World Cup.

The examination the next day revealed a muscle tear, but fortunately no tendon damage. If a tendon had been involved, he would certainly have missed the tournament.

Spanish coach de la Fuente still included Yamal in the squad when he announced the list on May 25, despite the possibility of him missing the first two matches. His recovery process was managed with extreme caution, and he did not miss a single training session at Barça's training ground.

He was also under the close supervision of physiotherapist Fernando Galán, who also accompanied the national team to the training camp, specifically to oversee the forward's recovery.

This care and dedication – combined with the resilience of a young body – led to his rapid recovery. Yamal is expected to participate in Monday's opening World Cup group match against Cape Verde, although Barcelona would prefer de la Fuente to delay his use slightly. He will likely start his World Cup journey from the bench.

Those close to Yamal say he considers the World Cup the most important tournament in the world – far more important than the Champions League or any domestic honor. Missing it is simply not an option.

Now, the stage is set, and he has the opportunity to explode even further in front of a global audience than he did at the Euros. The World Cup is a stage for such "moments": Pelé, Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, and Mbappé have all written historical chapters here.

Yamal is an irreplaceable talent for Spain, the team's most threatening player in attack, and de la Fuente has built his tactics around him, which explains why Spain is considered a favorite by many.

From a personal perspective, he has achieved tremendous success amidst such a huge transformation in the past two years. If he lives up to all expectations in this tournament, his status will completely leap into the ranks of top legends.