Lamine Yamal produced another devastating international performance as Spain defeated Croatia 4–1 in Seville, scoring twice and creating another goal as the world champions extended their extraordinary unbeaten run to 40 matches.
By Abiodun Adewale Adeniyi | Founder & Editor, Beyond the Final Whistle
September 29, 2026
Spain returned home as world champions and played like a team determined to prove that winning the World Cup was not the end of their journey.
Croatia were the latest opponents to discover just how difficult Luis de la Fuente's side have become to contain.
Spain won 4–1 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, collecting their second victory of the new Nations League campaign after beating England 3–2 at Wembley three days earlier.
But once again, one player stood above everyone else.
Lamine Yamal.
The 19-year-old scored twice and assisted another goal, producing the kind of performance that makes Spain's already formidable attack look even more dangerous.
Yamal Strikes Almost Immediately
Spain did not give Croatia time to settle.
Yamal opened the scoring almost immediately, finishing a flowing Spanish attack with a first-time strike.
Croatia responded through Dion Beljo, briefly threatening to disrupt Spain's homecoming.
But Yamal was nowhere near finished.
The Barcelona attacker created Spain's second for Marc Pubill, before adding another goal himself after half-time. Nico Williams eventually completed the 4–1 victory.
Lamine Yamal — Spain's difference-maker
What makes Yamal increasingly difficult to contain is that goals represent only part of his influence.
He can receive possession wide and attack a defender directly.
He can move inside and combine with Spain's midfield.
He can create the final pass.
And increasingly, he can finish moves himself.
Against Croatia, all of those qualities were visible.
From Wembley to Seville, Spain Keep Finding Answers
This result becomes even more impressive when viewed alongside what happened three days earlier.
Spain travelled to Wembley and fell 2–1 behind against England before recovering to win 3–2.
As we analysed in our England 2–3 Spain match report, the most impressive aspect of that victory was Spain's refusal to panic when Thomas Tuchel's team turned the match around.
Álex Baena equalised before Mikel Oyarzabal completed the comeback.
Against Croatia, Spain faced a different challenge.
This time they started quickly, were pegged back, and then took control again.
Different match.
Same response.
Win.
That adaptability is becoming one of Spain's most impressive characteristics.
De la Fuente Has Built More Than a Possession Team
Spain's traditional identity will always be associated with possession.
But this version of the national team offers considerably more.
They can dominate the ball.
They can press.
They can attack quickly.
They have width.
And with players such as Yamal and Nico Williams, they possess individuals capable of beating defenders without requiring a long passing sequence to create the opportunity.
That gives Luis de la Fuente tactical flexibility previous Spanish teams did not always possess.
Luis de la Fuente's Spain continue to evolve
De la Fuente's greatest achievement may therefore be finding a balance between Spain's traditional technical identity and the direct attacking qualities of his younger players.
Yamal embodies that evolution.
He is comfortable within Spain's possession structure but does not always need it.
Sometimes he simply attacks.
Forty Matches Unbeaten
Perhaps the most remarkable statistic from Spain's victory is the bigger one.
The world champions have now gone 40 matches without defeat inside 90 minutes, with 30 victories and 10 draws across that sequence.
That level of consistency is difficult to dismiss.
Spain have now beaten England and Croatia in their opening two Nations League fixtures, giving them six points from six. UEFA's schedule has Czechia next before Spain travel to Croatia for the return fixture.
Winning the World Cup could easily have created a natural drop in intensity.
Instead, Spain appear hungry for more.
Yamal Is Becoming the Face of This Spain Generation
Spain are certainly not a one-player team.
Their strength comes from the collective.
But every dominant international generation eventually produces players who become symbols of that era.
Yamal is increasingly becoming one of those figures.
At only 19, his international résumé is already extraordinary.
Yet perhaps the most frightening aspect for Spain's opponents is that he is still developing.
His decision-making can improve.
His movement can improve.
His finishing can improve.
And his understanding with Spain's other attacking players can become even stronger.
That should concern the rest of Europe.
Because Spain are already world champions.
They may not have reached their ceiling.
Beyond the Final Whistle, Spain's 4–1 victory over Croatia was another demonstration that the world champions are not satisfied with what they have already achieved. Luis de la Fuente has built a team capable of controlling possession, attacking at speed and adapting when matches change — and Lamine Yamal is increasingly becoming the player who gives that system its unpredictable edge.
After watching Spain beat England and Croatia in consecutive matches, are Luis de la Fuente's world champions actually becoming stronger — and can anyone stop Lamine Yamal? Join the conversation on Beyond the Final Whistle.
