Jakarta, ThedailyID — Spain captain Rodri has urged Lamine Yamal to stay calm and trust his natural ability as the young star faces growing expectations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Yamal has struggled to make his usual impact during the tournament. So far, the 19-year-old has scored just once, finding the net in Spain’s 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Despite Spain’s run to the semifinals, the Barcelona winger has yet to register an assist.
Rodri believes the teenager simply needs to relax and avoid putting too much pressure on himself.
“He needs to learn how to control his anxiet y,” Rodri said, according to RMC Sport.
“He is a key player for us, with and without the ball. He’s a very intelligent kid, but we must remember he’s only 19.”
“Sometimes during a match, you just need to calm him down because football is already in his blood. He only needs to find the right moments to express his full talent.”
Rodri added that head coach Luis de la Fuente shares the same view.
According to Rodri, Yamal sometimes tries too hard to prove himself, which can become a heavy burden for a player his age.
The youngster has drawn constant comparisons with stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland after his impressive performances for Barcelona.
“The coach said yesterday that Lamine needs to be calmer,” Rodri explained. “Sometimes he’s too eager to prove himself.”
Yamal’s modest numbers have sparked questions about his consistency after helping Spain win UEFA Euro 2024.
However, Rodri dismissed those concerns and praised his teammate’s maturity.
“He’s already a very mature player,” Rodri said. “Of course, there are things he still needs to improve, especially understanding different moments in a game. That’s completely normal at his age.”
“He listens, he always wants to learn, and for us, he has already become an icon in his position.”
