Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised Lamine Yamal's "magic" after the winger scored twice and provided an assist in his team's 4-1 UEFA Nations League win over Croatia on Tuesday as the defending champions ran their record unbeaten run to 40 games.
Barcelona star Yamal opened the scoring inside two minutes at the Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville, converting after a flowing team move, before creating a second goal after half an hour, crossing for Marc Pubill to make it 2-1.
The Ballon d'Or contender increased Spain's lead on 63 minutes, deceiving goalkeeper -- and Barça teammate -- Dominik Livakovic with a near-post finish, and then substitute Nico Williams completed the home side's win with a late fourth.
"Lamine wants to show the world the kind of player he is," De la Fuente told TVE. "We're delighted with him. His behaviour is so humble, and that makes him even greater."
Yamal's opening goal, which came on 70 seconds, was the fastest goal of his career, having also scored after one minute and 45 seconds just three days earlier against England at Wembley.
However, De la Fuente said he was equally pleased with the winger's assist for Pubill.
"Today we enjoyed [Yamal's] magic again, but he puts his magic at the service of the team," the coach said. "That says a lot about the player. In the future he'll be even more well known for what he does in his collective play.
"We're lucky to have him with us. Within the group, he's very loved."
Yamal has now contributed 18 goals in his last eight games for club and country, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in that time.
The star said his familiarity with club teammate Livakovic helped him score his second goal on Tuesday.
"I know him from training," Yamal told TVE. "I thought about what he does [there], and thankfully it went in.
"We could feel the excitement about bringing the World cup here [to Seville] to show the fans. They deserved it."
Yamal is among the contenders for the 2026 Men's Ballon d'Or -- to be announced next month -- after impressing as Barcelona won LaLiga, and Spain won the World Cup.
"Another one," Yamal joked, when asked by a reporter if his display against Croatia suggested that he deserved to win the prize, after finishing as runner-up in 2025.
Next up for Spain in the Nations League in a game against Czechia on Oct. 3, before closing their international window with another game against Croatia on Oct. 6.
