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Just hours remain until the highly anticipated clash between Spain and France in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. The build-up has already generated significant buzz off the pitch due to non-footballing reasons, but Lamine Yamal has now taken the situation to another level.
With 180 minutes to go until kick-off, the 19-year-old took to social media to taunt his opponents, recalling the last encounter between the two nations. In that match, he scored twice, and his team at one point held a commanding 5-1 lead. Ultimately, they secured a 5-4 victory, advancing to the Nations League final, where they eventually lost to Portugal on penalties.
Two of the three photos shared on his Instagram stories highlighted his stunning goal that made it 5-1 in the 67th minute. He had previously converted a penalty in the 54th minute before unleashing a superb shot from the edge of the box, celebrating by sitting on the advertising hoardings alongside former Sporting player Pedro Porro and photographers.
Unlike other global stars at this World Cup, such as Messi, Haaland, Mbappé, Kane, or Bellingham, Lamine Yamal has been far from his best form. However, he appears determined to make his mark in this crucial stage of the tournament.
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