Rodri tells anxious Yamal to calm down as Spain star insists goals won't matter if they lift the World Cup

Rodri has called on Lamine Yamal to shed his anxiety ahead of Spain’s World Cup semi-final, insisting the 19-year-old must stop trying to prove himself and trust the impact he is already having on the tournament.

Yamal arrived in the United States as one of the most hyped players in the competition, fresh from helping Spain retain the European Championship. Yet across six matches he has managed just one goal and no assists — a return that has drawn scrutiny despite Spain reaching the last four after victories over Portugal and Belgium.

Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or following his Player of the Tournament performance at Euro 2024, said the squad has been working to keep Yamal grounded. “I think he needs to calm down a bit, that anxiety that sometimes he has to prove himself,” the Manchester City midfielder said. “He’s a very important player for us because of what he does with and without the ball, and he’s a very intelligent guy. It’s true that he’s 19 years old and that we have to calm him down at certain moments of the game.”

Yamal himself has pushed back against the criticism, arguing that his contribution extends well beyond the scoresheet. “If we win the World Cup, I think nobody will remember how many goals I scored or how many I didn’t. If we win, we’ll all be happy, that’s all I want,” he said. “I know that with my movement I draw a lot of opponents away; I can create space for a teammate. Anything I can do to help, even if I don’t touch the ball in a play, will be a positive. I think everyone’s obsessed with scoring goals.”

The teenager has previous form for delivering on the biggest stages. At Euro 2024 he scored a stunning long-range equaliser against France in the semi-final before Spain went on to win the trophy. Last season at club level he enjoyed his most prolific campaign yet, netting 24 goals for Barcelona as they retained the La Liga title — six more than the season before.

Spain are chasing their second World Cup title, having won the tournament in South Africa in 2010, and Yamal’s ability to stretch defences and create space for teammates remains central to their approach even when the goals are not flowing.