Lamine Yamal Shines with Perfect 10/10 as Spain Overpower Croatia 4-1 in Nations League

At the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, Spain delivered a commanding 4-1 victory against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League. The standout player was undoubtedly teenager Lamine Yamal, who scored twice and set up another goal, earning an immaculate 10/10 rating.

The match began explosively with Yamal opening the scoring just two minutes in, converting a precise cross from Álex Baena. Croatia responded in the 28th minute when Dion Drena Beljo equalized with a header after Ivan Perisic’s assist. Spain quickly regained control, and Marc Pubill headed in a corner from Yamal three minutes later to restore the lead before halftime.

Spain dominated possession in the second half, controlling 63.7% of the ball and stifling Croatia’s midfield. Yamal sealed his brace shortly after the hour mark, while substitute Nico Williams added a late goal, cementing Spain's position atop Group 3.

Player Ratings

• Goalkeeper & Defence
• Unai Simon - 6/10: Quiet night for the captain, who faced only two shots on target. He could not stop Beljo’s header but maintained good communication to avoid further mistakes.
• Marc Pubill - 8/10: Impressive in attack and defense, stretching Croatia’s defense and scoring Spain's second goal with a well-timed header.
• Pau Cubarsi - 7/10: Displayed calmness and intelligence handling Beljo’s threat, while contributing progressive passes to keep Spain’s tempo high.
• Dean Huijsen - 7/10: Reliable in aerial duels and positioning, helping limit Croatia’s chances despite one defensive lapse.
• Marc Cucurella - 7/10: Energetic with constant overlaps, balancing attacking runs and defensive duties effectively.
• Midfield
• Martin Zubimendi - 7/10: The team's tactical pivot, breaking up play and recycling possession efficiently before being replaced by Rodri.
• Fabian Ruiz - 7/10: Combined strength and technique well, operating in key spaces until substituted by Pedri.
• Álex Baena - 8/10: Creative throughout, providing the early assist to Yamal and consistently troubling Croatia's defense until his substitution.
• Fermin Lopez - 7/10: Hard-working and disciplined, narrowly missing a goal with a powerful shot hitting the post.
• Attack
• Lamine Yamal - 10/10: Flawless showing with two goals and an assist. He dominated the Croatian left side all night before being subbed off.
• Mikel Oyarzabal - 6/10: Played selflessly upfront, creating space for teammates though lacking direct goal threat.
• Substitutes & Manager
• Pedri - 8/10: Came on to boost creativity, assisting Yamal’s second goal with slick midfield play.
• Mikel Merino - 7/10: Added toughness in midfield and set up Nico Williams’ late goal.
• Nico Williams - 8/10: Energized the attack off the bench, scoring a well-taken goal to finish the game.
• Victor Muñoz - 6/10: Replaced Yamal and nearly scored himself, fitting in well during the closing stages.
• Rodri - 6/10: Took over as captain late on, helping control the match tempo.
• Luis de la Fuente - 9/10: His tactics paid off, trusting young defenders and unleashing Yamal’s talent. Substitutions were perfectly timed, highlighting squad depth.

Upcoming UEFA Nations League Fixtures

• Croatia vs England - 3 Oct 2026, 19:00
• Spain vs Czechia - 3 Oct 2026, 21:45