Robert Lewandowski Reflects on Lamine Yamal’s Role in Spain’s 2026 World Cup Win

Robert Lewandowski, former Barcelona striker, shared his thoughts on why his ex-teammate Lamine Yamal didn’t quite reach his peak during Spain’s victorious run at the 2026 World Cup. Despite being a key figure, the young Barcelona talent had to deal with challenges that affected his output.

Injury Affected His Impact

The teenage star arrived at the tournament recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for the final part of Barcelona’s La Liga season. Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, carefully managed Yamal’s minutes early on, but the 19-year-old still featured in eight matches. He contributed one goal over 616 minutes and led the tournament with 35 successful dribbles, playing an important role in Spain’s wins over Portugal, France, and Argentina in the final.

Lewandowski Weighs In on Yamal’s Form

Speaking to ESPN, Lewandowski said fans didn’t witness Yamal’s very best at the World Cup. "Honestly, no, we didn’t see his top form this tournament," he remarked. "For me, his best performances were two seasons ago, not last season." The Polish forward highlighted the difficulty of coming back after an eight-week break without competitive football, then jumping straight into World Cup action with limited training time. Still, he praised Yamal’s quality and the strong team chemistry within Spain.

"He showed really good quality. The Spain players and the team helped Lamine and Lamine also helped the whole team. I think that this cooperation was perfect."

Why Lewandowski Supported Spain

Lewandowski’s Poland did not qualify for the tournament, but he backed Spain in the final against Argentina, largely because of his close ties with many Spanish players from his Barcelona days. "I know a lot of players from Spain and I spent so much time in Barcelona with them, so I supported them a lot," he said. Though familiar personally only with Lionel Messi from Argentina, Lewandowski felt connected to the Spanish side given his history and relationships there.

"If you play with them, spend a lot of time together, then it’s easier to support this team. I was happy because I know they were ready to win the World Cup. They are very young and the future is in front of them."

Looking Ahead

After international duty and a break, Yamal will focus on regaining full fitness as he prepares for the upcoming Barcelona season. Meanwhile, Lewandowski has moved to MLS, debuting with Chicago Fire against Inter Miami CF. He expressed eagerness to help his new club aim for success immediately. "I’m ready to do this and try to help my teammates and new club take the next step, and also to win some titles," he said.