Carli Lloyd Labels Spain’s Young Phenom Lamine Yamal ‘Average’ After World Cup Victory

When Spain lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy after a 1‑0 win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the celebration was loud, the fireworks bright, and the post‑match chatter… well, a bit mixed. One voice that cut through the euphoria was former U.S. women’s national team star Carli Lloyd, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to call Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal “average.”

It wasn’t a casual remark. After a fan pointed out that the 19‑year‑old had just earned his first World Cup winners’ medal, Lloyd replied, “And? Doesn’t mean he individually had a good tournament.” The comment sparked a minor online flare‑up, with some users telling the former champion to “put her phone down.” Undeterred, Lloyd doubled down, noting that Yamal entered the final carrying an injury and, in her view, never quite lived up to the sky‑high expectations placed on him.

For context, Yamal had been billed all tournament as the next big thing – a possible heir to Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. He scored a single goal, ten minutes into Spain’s 4‑0 group‑stage rout of Saudi Arabia, and then spent most of the knockout rounds hovering on the fringes of the action. In the final, he even earned a free‑kick in the dying minutes, yet failed to find the net.

That said, the numbers tell a slightly more nuanced story. NBC Sports noted that Yamal logged the most shots, dribbles and tackles for Spain in the final, even if none translated into a goal or assist. Still, the consensus among many pundits was that his impact was modest compared with teammate Ferran Torres, who headed the decisive goal in extra time, or Mikel Oyarzábal, Spain’s leading scorer with five strikes.

Lloyd’s criticism may feel harsh, but it’s not without precedent. The former two‑time World Cup winner has never shied away from blunt assessments – remember her “no excuse” rant after the U.S. women’s loss in 2020? In this case, she seemed to be reminding fans that a trophy is a team effort, and that hype surrounding a single player can quickly fade.

Yamal, for his part, remains only 19. He has a decade‑plus of club football ahead, and his early injury woes could be just a blip. As Lloyd herself admitted, “a lot can happen and play a role in someone’s career. We will all see how it plays out.” With the next World Cup not until 2030, the Spanish winger (or forward) still has time to turn that “average” label on its head.

Meanwhile, Spain’s victory underscores a broader truth: football is a collective sport. Whether you’re a veteran like Carli Lloyd or a teenage breakout like Lamine Yamal, the beautiful game rewards cohesion over individual flash. And for fans, it gives us plenty of fodder for debate long after the final whistle.