Luis de la Fuente on Lamine Yamal's Journey to the World Cup
Luis de la Fuente did not talk about miracles. He talked about work.
Presenting his autobiography, Life is Trained Every Day, the Spain coach used the stage to strip away the mythology around Lamine Yamal and lay bare the reality behind an 18-year-old already carrying a nation’s expectations.
“Apart from his great talent, he trains three hours a day, goes to the gym, visits his physio, his nutritionist and his psychologist, and gives himself to his invisible training, which is the most important thing,” De la Fuente said, making it clear that nothing about Yamal’s rise has been handed to him. “Invisible training is something that many people are unaware of. It’s about being 24 hours thinking about your work. Nobody gives Lamine anything.”
This is the version of Yamal that Spain want to take to the World Cup in North America: not just the prodigy, but the professional.
Race against time for North America
A muscle tear in late April halted Yamal’s breathtaking season and sent a shiver through both Barcelona and the national team. The winger has now stepped back onto the grass at Barça’s training complex, a small but significant step in his recovery and a boost to Spain’s plans.
There is real optimism around his availability for the tournament. De la Fuente, who has watched the teenager’s progress at close quarters, sounded assured.
“I talk about Lamine because I know him very well. God willing, he will arrive at the World Cup as well as possible,” he said. The message was calm, not panicked: Spain will wait for their star, but they will not gamble recklessly.
Barcelona, wary after a long and demanding season, remain anxious about the load placed on their young forward. The national team staff, in turn, are tracking every detail of his daily evolution, trying to align club caution with international ambition. Every session, every response, every bit of “invisible” work counts.
Super-sub before superstar?
Even if Yamal makes it, Spain are unlikely to throw him straight into the fire. Ruled out for the rest of the La Liga campaign, he will arrive at the World Cup short of competitive minutes, and De la Fuente has already floated a pragmatic plan: use the teenager as a high-impact substitute in the early stages.
The idea is simple. Protect him now to unleash him later.
”We contemplate all the scenarios. If you are winning, if you are losing, if the opponent is left with ten...” De la Fuente explained. “There are players who can give you 20 minutes and that also has enormous value.”
He did not have to look far for an example. Dani Olmo’s path at Euro 2024 offers the template. “Olmo arrived injured, we were about to rule him out, but then he was decisive in the European Championship,” the coach reminded. Spain turned an almost-discarded player into a tournament match-winner. Yamal could follow the same arc, eased in at first, decisive when the stakes rise.
The strategy is clear: get him to 100 per cent when the World Cup reaches its sharp end, not in the opening week.
Gavi back in the frame
Yamal is not the only Barcelona talent forcing his way back into the conversation. Gavi, after his own long road back, has started to look like himself again – intense, combative, relentless. His recent performances at club level have pushed the national team door open once more.
“He’s in a very good moment. Best of all, he has recovered,” De la Fuente said. “He’s competing fantastically at his club and we celebrate. That’s the best news. Then we will make the decision whether to call up a player or not.”
It was a measured line, but the implication was obvious: fitness first, decisions later.
Between Yamal’s race to be ready and Gavi’s resurgence, Spain’s World Cup build-up is being shaped not just by tactics and systems, but by bodies healing and careers being carefully managed. De la Fuente has his stars. Now he must decide how much risk he is willing to take to have them shining when it matters most.
