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Yamal Still Needs to Prove Himself at World Cup
James Hartwell | June 29, 2026 10:55 AM CST

Is Lamine Yamal already a global superstar, or does he still have something to prove? According to Argentina legend Mario Kempes, the answer is clear—the Barcelona teenager must deliver on the World Cup stage before he can be mentioned alongside the game's all-time greats.

Despite the 18-year-old's rapid ascent at club level, which has drawn admiration from across the football world, Kempes has urged caution. He believes that performing in La Liga is one thing, but the World Cup presents an entirely different kind of pressure. The 1978 World Cup winner insists that true legendary status is only achieved when a player steps up for their country on football's biggest stage.

Kempes addressed Yamal's contributions to the Spanish national team and made his stance clear. While he acknowledged what the young winger has already shown at Barcelona, he emphasized that the World Cup is where the most valuable players prove their worth. For Kempes, the intensity of knockout matches in international tournaments is what ultimately separates the genuinely great players from the merely good ones.


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