Yamal Evokes Pelé as Spain's Early Blitz Sets New Record

With three goals scored within the first 25 minutes against Saudi Arabia, Spain achieved their best-ever start to a World Cup match.

The European champions had never before netted three times by the 25th minute in a World Cup fixture. However, the Spaniards took an early 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal (11’) and Mikel Oyarzabal (21’, 24’). The only other instance this century where a team scored three goals before the 25th minute in a World Cup match was in 2014, when Germany famously defeated tournament hosts Brazil 7-1.

At just 18 years old, Yamal became the second-youngest player in history to open the scoring in a World Cup match. He is surpassed only by the legendary Pelé, who achieved this feat for Brazil against Wales at 17 years of age during the 1958 World Cup.

Furthermore, with this goal from the young Barcelona star, Spain became the only team in World Cup history to have two goalscorers aged 18 or younger. Besides Yamal (18 years and 343 days), the other is his club teammate Gavi, who scored at 18 years and 110 days against Costa Rica at the World Cup in Qatar.

Oyarzabal also set a record with his explosive start to the game. With his two goals and one assist, the forward became only the second player since at least the 1966 World Cup to contribute to three goals by the 25th minute of a tournament match. The other player to achieve this was Hungary's László Fazekas against El Salvador in 1982, when he registered one goal and two assists.