Vinícius Junior: ‘Lamine Yamal can win the World Cup single-handedly’

Vinícius Junior has set aside the fierce rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona to heap praise on Spanish-Moroccan sensation Lamine Yamal, insisting the teenager possesses the quality to lead Spain to World Cup success almost single-handedly.

With the countdown to the next FIFA World Cup gathering pace, the Brazilian winger highlighted Yamal as one of the standout talents capable of making the difference on football’s biggest stage.

Speaking to Caze TV, Vinícius was full of admiration for the Barcelona forward, whose meteoric rise has made him one of the most feared attacking players in world football despite his young age.

“Spain have Lamine Yamal, who is one of the best players in the world,” Vinícius said.

“He does incredible things on the pitch. He is a player who can win the World Cup single-handedly. He is one of those players you pay to watch play.”

The endorsement carries extra weight given the intense competition between Spain’s two biggest clubs. Yet Vinícius had no hesitation in recognising the impact Yamal has made for both club and country over the past few seasons.

Yamal’s reputation has continued to soar following another remarkable campaign with Barcelona. The winger finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or standings after producing a string of match-winning displays and establishing himself among the elite players in the game.

His numbers underline that influence. Since breaking into Barcelona’s first team, Yamal has amassed 49 goals and 52 assists in 151 appearances across all competitions.

The youngster was equally decisive during the most recent season, contributing 24 goals and 18 assists as Barcelona challenged for major honours on multiple fronts.

Already regarded as one of football’s brightest stars, Yamal is expected to play a central role in Spain’s ambitions at the World Cup. If his current trajectory continues, the teenager could arrive at the tournament as one of its headline attractions.

For Vinícius, there appears to be little doubt. The Brazilian believes Yamal belongs among the very best in the world and has the rare ability to influence a tournament in a way few players can.