In one of the most breathtaking matches in UEFA Nations League history, 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal stole the spotlight with a stunning brace to help Spain defeat France 5-4 and book their place in the final for a third consecutive time.
This semifinal clash was a showdown between former champions, France, the 2021 winners, and Spain, the reigning 2023 champions. But it was Yamal who turned the night into a statement performance of the future.
The match kicked off with high intensity, and it was Spain who drew first blood. Nico Williams opened the scoring with a superb finish in the 9th minute. Midfielder Mikel Merino followed up with a powerful header in the 26th minute to make it 2-0. France looked shell-shocked.
After the break, Spain showed no signs of slowing down. Pedri made it 3-0 just minutes into the second half before Yamal weaved his way through the defence and slotted in Spain’s fourth goal, taking the score to a staggering 4-0.
Mbappé Strikes, but Spain Hit Back Harder
France finally found a way through in the 59th minute, when Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty to bring it to 4-1. But Spain responded almost immediately, and it was Yamal again. The teenager’s second goal of the night made it 5-1 and seemingly put the game beyond reach.
Yet the French side showed resilience. In a wild final 15 minutes, France mounted a furious comeback. Randal Kolo Muani, Rayan Cherki (assisted by Mbappé), and Kingsley Coman all found the net in quick succession to make it 5-4.
Spain held on through stoppage time to seal a dramatic win in a nine-goal thriller, the highest-scoring match in Nations League history.
This match also added another chapter to the growing rivalry between Yamal and Mbappé. Remarkably, this was Mbappé’s sixth straight loss against teams featuring Yamal, a run that includes club and country clashes. For Yamal, this performance felt like a symbolic passing of the torch.
Mbappé still had his moments, his assist to Cherki brought his national team assist total to 31, surpassing Antoine Griezmann as France’s all-time assist leader.
France head coach Didier Deschamps was visibly frustrated after the match but tried to remain balanced in his analysis.
“It’s a complicated feeling tonight,” he said. “Being 2-0 down at half-time was hard to accept, especially given the chances we created. Even when we were 5-1 behind, the players didn’t give up. That’s something I’m proud of.”
Deschamps added, “You can’t concede five goals and expect to win, though. Defensively, we were too open, and Spain were ruthless with their finishing.”
Final Showdown: Ronaldo vs Yamal in an Iberian Derby
Spain will now face Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final, a blockbuster Iberian Derby. Both teams have won the title once before, making this a winner-takes-all decider.
The final also sets up a mouthwatering clash between two of the game’s biggest stars from different generations: 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. It’s a battle of the legend and the prodigy, and a narrative that football fans everywhere are eagerly anticipating.
From a four-goal lead to a narrow one-goal escape, this match had it all: drama, goals, comebacks, and world-class performances. As Spain marches into the final, one thing is clear: the future is already here, and his name is Lamine Yamal.
