When France and Spain face off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals in Dallas on July 14, the emphasis will undoubtedly rest on two exceptional players: Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Two generations, two superstars, and just one spot in the World Cup final. While this will be their first encounter on football’s biggest platform, the Real Madrid attacker and Barcelona sensation are not unfamiliar with the situation.
In fact, Tuesday’s blockbuster will be their 11th matchup in their careers. Surprisingly, the youthful Spaniard has dominated the rivalry; Yamal has won eight of their previous ten games, but Mbappe has been more successful in front of goal, scoring nine times to Yamal’s six.
International meetings: Yamal has the upper hand
Their rivalry has already resulted in two memorable international semifinals. The first occurred at the UEFA EURO 2024 in Munich, when Spain defeated France 2-1. Yamal made his mark on the greatest stage with a magnificent goal that helped La Roja advance to the final.
A year later, they faced off again in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals in Stuttgart. Spain won again, edging France 5-4 in a tense thriller. Yamal was the star performer, scoring twice, while Mbappe also scored in another thrilling match between the European heavyweights.