Nico Williams: Mbappé is a Monster, But We Have Yamal, the Best Player in the World

Spain's star, Nico Williams, labeled French forward Kylian Mbappé a "monster" ahead of their semi-final showdown at the 2026 World Cup. However, the Athletic Bilbao winger insisted that his national teammate Lamine Yamal remains the best player in the world.

"Kylian Mbappé is a monster. He's one of the best in the world, but we have Lamine Yamal, who is the best footballer in the world," Nico Williams declared.

Mbappé currently leads the 2026 World Cup scoring charts with an impressive eight goals in six matches. He also boasts three assists for France, bringing his total goal contributions to 11 – the most in the tournament so far.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal is finally hitting his stride after overcoming an injury that limited his impact earlier in the tournament. The Spanish winger has one goal to his name so far, along with two "Man of the Match" awards.

These two European giants are no strangers to each other. Over the years, they have maintained a fierce rivalry that consistently delivers captivating encounters.

Ahead of their clash this week, Spain and France have faced each other 38 times. "La Furia Roja" holds the advantage with 18 victories, while "Les Bleus" have secured 13 wins, and seven matches have ended in a draw.

The last time these two teams met, "La Roja" emerged victorious with a 5-4 win in the Nations League semi-finals. Prior to that, Luis de la Fuente's squad also defeated "Les Bleus" 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. It remains to be seen how things will unfold when they clash again in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14th.