BREAKING NEWS: Coming live from camp Nou, “Playing like this at this age with this mentality and passion is the best experience Spain and Barcelona will enjoy of years is absolutely phenomenal, with his game play he needs to always be in the staring XI for both country & club. He earned it himself”. Barcelona legend waxed lyrical about Barcelona star on social media after he had an excellent performance in their 4-1 win against Switzerland in the 2024 Nations League on Sunday (September 8). Best footballer in the world”, “Levels above Vinicius” – Andrés Iniesta hail Spain star’s performance in their 4-1 win over Switzerland.

Spain fans took to social media to lavish praise on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal after his outstanding display in their 4-1 victory over Switzerland in the 2024 Nations League on Sunday, September 8. The 17-year-old Barcelona forward played a key role in the win, impressing fans and sparking debates, with some even suggesting he is now better than Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.

Yamal made an instant impact in the match, setting the tone early on with a stunning assist just four minutes into the game. The youngster delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post, where striker Joselu met it with a header to give Spain a 1-0 lead. The Swiss quickly responded, with Becir Omeragic finding the back of the net just three minutes later. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside, providing a reprieve for Spain.

Spain doubled their advantage in the 13th minute through Fabian Ruiz, whose finish capped off a brilliant move started by Yamal’s exceptional through ball. However, Spain’s momentum was halted when defender Robert Le Normand received a straight red card for a reckless challenge, leaving La Roja down to 10 men for the remainder of the match. Despite being a man down, Spain showed resilience and determination throughout the game.

Switzerland capitalized on their numerical advantage, and Zeki Amdouni pulled one back for the visitors just before half-time, finishing from close range in the 41st minute. The game seemed poised for a comeback, but Spain remained composed and entered the break with a slender lead.

The second half saw Spain dig deep to protect their advantage, and they sealed the victory with two late goals from Fabian Ruiz and Ferran Torres in the 77th and 80th minutes, respectively. Ruiz’s second of the night came from a well-worked move, while Torres capped off a clinical counterattack. Despite Switzerland controlling possession with 66 percent and completing over 550 passes, Spain proved more dangerous in attack, registering nine shots on target compared to Switzerland’s three.

Yamal was at the heart of Spain’s attacking threat, despite only playing in the first half. His performance drew admiration from fans and pundits alike. The teenager provided one assist, created two goal-scoring chances, and won eight duels in a dominant 45-minute display. In just 16 appearances for Spain, Yamal has already recorded three goals and nine assists, outshining Vinicius Junior’s five goals and five assists in 34 matches for Brazil. This comparison has fueled the growing belief among Spain fans that Yamal is already surpassing the Brazilian in terms of international contributions.

Fans took to social media to express their awe at Yamal’s rapid rise. One fan boldly claimed, “Just give the Ballon d’Or to Yamal, man. He’s levels above Vinicius and Bellingham, and he’s won the Euros already.” Another fan tweeted, “Lamine Yamal is the best footballer in the world. Argue with your keyboard.” The sentiment among fans is that Yamal is destined for greatness, with one fan commenting, “He has a better international legacy than Vini at 17 already. What a GEM.”

Some fans even predicted that Yamal is on course to become one of the best players in the world. One fan observed, “Yamal is already becoming a problem from central areas at 17. Yeah, wrap it up man, this is the kid who’s taking the crown next.” Another fan highlighted Yamal’s statistical superiority, noting, “Lamine Yamal at age 17 now has more goal contributions for his country than Vinicius has for Brazil. He also has more assists for his country than Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka combined for England.”

The 4-1 win over Switzerland marked an important bounce-back victory for Spain, who had previously drawn 0-0 against Serbia on September 5. Spain’s triumph places them second in Group D of the Nations League, with four points from two games, just two points behind group leaders Denmark.

Despite being reduced to 10 men for much of the match, Spain demonstrated their attacking prowess. While Switzerland dominated possession with 66 percent and completed 554 passes with 88 percent accuracy, Spain was more clinical in the final third. La Roja managed to land eight shots on target out of nine attempts and created five big chances with an xG (expected goals) of 1.90. Switzerland, on the other hand, despite having 20 shots, only managed three on target and struck the woodwork once.

The result solidifies Spain’s status as a formidable force in European football, while Lamine Yamal’s star continues to rise. His performance against Switzerland has further fueled the excitement around his potential, and fans are eager to see how far the 17-year-old can go as he continues to make his mark on the international stage. Whether Yamal can sustain this level of excellence remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—he has already captured the imagination of football fans around the world.