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Rabat – Former Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has said that Lamine Yamal’s strongest form came two seasons ago, while acknowledging the difficult circumstances surrounding the young winger’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an interview with ESPN, Lewandowski was asked whether Yamal had shown his best form during the tournament, which ended with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final.
“Honestly, no, we didn’t see his best this tournament,” Lewandowski said. “The best performance, the best Lamine for me, wasn’t last season, but two seasons ago. That was, for me, the best version of Lamine Yamal.”
Lewandowski, who left Barcelona to join Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire in June, attributed Yamal’s uneven form to the hamstring injury that kept him out during the closing weeks of Barcelona’s season.
The Polish striker said returning directly to World Cup competition after approximately eight weeks without playing made it difficult for his former teammate to recover his rhythm.
“He’s still young. He came to the World Cup after an injury, and he didn’t play for around eight weeks,” Lewandowski explained. “You don’t have time for training. You just go from game to game.”
Yamal contributes to Spain’s World Cup victory
Despite the injury disruption, Yamal appeared in all eight of Spain’s matches during the tournament and started seven.
The Barcelona winger scored once, against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, as Spain relied on its collective strength en route to a second World Cup title.
Lewandowski said Yamal continued to demonstrate his technical quality and developed an effective relationship with the rest of the Spanish squad.
“The Spain players and the team helped Lamine, and Lamine also helped the whole team,” he said. “I think that this cooperation was perfect.”
Yamal, who turned 19 during the 2026 World Cup, had entered the competition following a race to recover from a hamstring problem suffered with Barcelona in April.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente initially managed his playing time before giving him a larger role as the tournament progressed.
Spain eventually defeated defending champion Argentina in the final, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in extra time.
The victory gave Spain its second men’s World Cup title after its first triumph in 2010.
Read also: Spain Crowned World Champions After Extra-Time Victory Over Argentina
