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Spain winger Lamine Yamal has labeled Tuesday's World Cup semifinal against France as "the most important match" of his career.

The Barcelona star, who turned 19 on Monday, is already a Euro 2024 champion but insists this showdown in Arlington, Texas, carries special weight.

"Without a doubt, this is the most important match I'm going to play," Yamal said. "We're all very excited, especially me. I'm certain it's going to be a special day. I would like to gift myself [for my birthday] a win and be able to go to New York [to play the final]."

France enter as favorites, having won all six matches with a 16–2 goal differential. But Yamal insists Spain fear no one.

"Obviously, I'm not afraid of France," he said. "We're the European champions, and we don't fear any team. I don't think their attacking prowess has to be a bad thing for us. It might even be a good thing. It will surely be a very leveled game."

Yamal has played every minute of Spain's knockout wins over Portugal and Belgium since regaining fitness from injury, recording one goal in six tournament appearances.

"You [reporters] say I'm not at my best, so you shouldn't expect anything from me," he joked. "But I'm confident things will go well. I'm not worried about the goals, but it's always special to score in games like this. I accept the challenge—that's why I'm here."

On pressure, Yamal was dismissive: "I don't feel pressure. I play the way I know how—I just give everything I have for the team. When you give it your all, you don't feel any pressure."

Yamal also addressed controversial comments from former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who claimed France "don't have any French players"—remarks Spain's current Prime Minister called "xenophobic."

Yamal, born to a Moroccan father and Equatorial Guinean mother, responded: "I think we're going to play a very important game, and there's no room for that. But if football serves any purpose, it's to bring people together in society, integration, and if there are two teams that set an example, they are France and Spain."