Kylian Mbappe faces a familiar hurdle in his quest to guide France to a second UEFA Nations League final — teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who has bested him in six of their seven career encounters.
Both players, who boast African heritage — Mbappe through his Cameroonian and Algerian roots and Yamal from his Equatoguinean and Moroccan lineage — will clash again on Thursday night in Stuttgart as France meet reigning European champions Spain in a high-stakes semi-final.
The last time these two sides met in the Nations League was in 2021, when Mbappe struck a controversial winner to seal a 2-1 comeback victory.
But this time, the momentum favours Spain, who are defending champions and enter the contest with a psychological edge after beating France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals earlier this summer.
Mbappe, fresh from a prolific debut season with Real Madrid where he netted 43 goals across all competitions and claimed the European Golden Boot, has often found himself outshone by Yamal when their clubs faced off.
In four meetings last season between Real Madrid and Barcelona, it was Yamal who consistently made the difference, helping the Catalans triumph on each occasion — including in the Copa del Rey and Super Cup finals.
Despite Mbappe scoring five times against Barcelona — including a hat-trick — the 17-year-old Yamal proved decisive, scoring in every league fixture and playing a key role in Barca’s silverware haul.
Even at international level, Yamal left his mark, cancelling out an early Mbappe assist with a stunning equaliser in Spain’s 2-1 victory over France at the Euros.
Now, with a second straight Nations League final within reach, Yamal stands once again between Mbappe and continental glory.
