The 2026 World Cup is in full swing across North America, and Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal made his long-awaited World Cup debut as a 71st-minute substitute in Spain’s Group H opener against Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The 18-year-old had been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in April, and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente opted to manage his workload by leaving him on the bench. Many expected the European champions to cruise past Cape Verde the way Germany dismantled Curaçao 7-1 a day earlier, but Spain’s attack struggled without their most dangerous player on the pitch.
Robert Griffin III, Chad Johnson Celebrate Lamine Yamal’s Return From Injury
Instead of the dominant performance fans around the world anticipated, Spain found themselves stuck in a frustrating stalemate against a stubborn Cape Verdean defense anchored by 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha.
De la Fuente waited until the 71st minute to introduce Yamal alongside Mikel Merino, and the substitution sparked excitement well beyond the soccer world, including among two former NFL stars.
“Lamine Yamal is in the game! FINALLY!!!” Robert Griffin III wrote on X.
Griffin was not the only one thrilled by Yamal’s entry into the match, as Cincinnati Bengals legend Chad Johnson, a big soccer fan, predicted big things for the Spanish superstar.
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“Yamal w/ fresh legs getting ready to dribble through 3 people & score,” Johnson said.
Although he didn’t score, Yamal showed flashes of the brilliance that has made him arguably the best player in the world. He created chances from the right flank and injected the kind of directness Spain had lacked for 70 minutes.
The match visibly changed when he entered, with Spain’s attack gaining urgency and width that Ferran Torres and Gavi hadn’t provided. However, Cape Verde’s defense held firm, and the match ended 0-0, marking one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far.
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Griffini also lauded Cape Verde’s efforts to hold on to a draw and said, “That’s why you play the game on the pitch. You never know what will happen.”
Cape Verde just battled to a 0-0 draw against European Champ Spain in their first FIFA World Cup game EVER.
Spain had 74% possession of the ball.
Highest of any team in the World Cup so far.That’s why you play the game on the pitch.
You never know what will happen#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/AFd6jYvh4n— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 15, 2026
Johnson, on the other hand, made sure to praise Vozinha for his performance against Spain. “Man of the match is Cape Verde goalie,” he wrote on X.
Given how Yamal transformed Spain’s attack in limited minutes, De la Fuente may have little choice but to start him when they face Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta.
Another slip-up would make an already competitive Group H, which also includes Uruguay, significantly more dangerous for Spain. Uruguay will face Saudi Arabia later in the day, and if they win that game, as expected, they have a clear path to topping their group.
