The debate between Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 isn’t particularly close right now, and certainly not since the 2026 FIFA World Cup has started. While Mbapp\u00e9 has asserted his dominance on the world stage with a tournament-high eight goals, Yamal has yet to hit his stride, recording just one goal contribution.<\/p>\n
But there is one area Yamal might have a mental advantage in going into France and Spain’s semifinal showdown at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday, and that’s his record against Mbapp\u00e9 in eliminations matches at the club and international level.<\/p>\n
Through five matches across all competitions, Mbapp\u00e9 has never beaten Yamal in an elimination scenario. He’ll be hoping to break that curse as he looks to make his third appearance in the World Cup final, while Yamal will do everything he can to maintain the status quo and make his first-ever World Cup finla.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the matachup, here is a look back at every time Yamal and Mbapp\u00e9 have gone head-to-head in an elimination match:<\/p>\n
(Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span> <\/p>\n The first time these two faced off in a single-elimination match came two years ago, also in a semifinal, but at the European Championship.<\/p>\n Spain came into that Euro 2024 semifinal flying, having put together a marvelous tournament up to that point. La Roja went perfect in the group stage, winning all three matches, then beat Georgia comfortably in the round of 16 before knocking out host nation Germany in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n France, meanwhile, had a relatively slow start to the tournament. Les Bleus failed to win their group, managing five points in the group stage, before grinding out knockout wins over Belgium and Portugal. France beat Belgium 1-0 in the round of 16, then defeated Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n Spain had the momentum, but an early goal from Randal Kolo Muani stirred the pot and gave France the lead. Then came a moment of magic from Yamal, who scored a long-distance pearler to bring Spain level.<\/p>\n Dani Olmo then scored off a Jules Kound\u00e9 deflection, giving Spain a 2-1 lead before halftime. Spain managed to hang on, winning the semifinal before going on to beat England in the final and win the entire tournament.<\/p>\n (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh\/Getty Images)<\/span> <\/p>\n This was an absolute thriller of a Copa del Rey final played at La Cartuja in Seville, with Barcelona getting the better of Real Madrid 3-2 after extra time.<\/p>\n Mbapp\u00e9 got on the scoresheet with a goal, while Yamal did not score but still made a major impact with two assists.<\/p>\n Barcelona took the initial lead through Pedri in the first half, but it looked like Real Madrid might be on its way to victory after Mbapp\u00e9 equalized in the 70th minute and Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni scored a go-ahead goal in the 77th.<\/p>\n But Barcelona responded with an equalizer of its own from Ferran Torres in the 84th minute to push the game into extra time.<\/p>\n Then came the decisive moment. A late mistake from Brahim D\u00edaz, who did not sense Jules Kound\u00e9 coming, allowed the French defender to intercept a Luka Modri\u0107 pass before blasting in the extra-time winner.<\/p>\n Barcelona lifted the Copa del Rey trophy, and Yamal once again came out on top against Mbapp\u00e9.<\/p>\n (Photo by Alex Grimm\/Getty Images)<\/span> <\/p>\n The last time these two faced off in a single-elimination match was the Supercopa final in January of this year.<\/p>\n Playing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia again, Barcelona got the better of Real Madrid in another thriller, winning 3-2.<\/p>\n Raphinha gave Barcelona the initial lead before Vin\u00edcius Jr. equalized in first-half stoppage time. Barcelona immediately answered, also in stoppage time, with Robert Lewandowski giving them the advantage.<\/p>\n But there was still more chaos before halftime, as Gonzalo Garc\u00eda leveled it for Real Madrid and sent the teams into the break at 2-2.<\/p>\n Raphinha eventually scored the winner in a less action-packed second half, with his 73rd-minute goal giving Barcelona the Supercopa de Espa\u00f1a. Barcelona had to play the final moments with 10 men after Frenkie de Jong was sent off in stoppage time for a foul on Mbapp\u00e9, but it still held on.<\/p>\n That made it five single-elimination meetings between Yamal and Mbapp\u00e9, and five wins for Yamal.<\/p>\n Now, with Spain and France meeting in a World Cup semifinal, Mbapp\u00e9 gets another chance to finally get one over Yamal when the stakes are at their highest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" POPULAR SEARCHES BROWSE BY The debate between Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 isn’t particularly close right now, and certainly not since the 2026 FIFA World Cup has started. While Mbapp\u00e9 has asserted his dominance on the world stage with a tournament-high eight goals, Yamal has yet to hit his stride, recording just one goal contribution. 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