Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised Lamine Yamal's "magic" after the winger scored twice and provided an assist in a 4-1 UEFA Nations League win over Croatia on Tuesday, extending Spain's unbeaten run to 40 games. Yamal opened the scoring inside two minutes at the Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville, then crossed for Marc Pubill to make it 2-1. He scored again on 63 minutes, deceiving goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, with substitute Nico Williams adding a late fourth.

"Lamine wants to show the world the kind of player he is," De la Fuente told TVE. "His behaviour is so humble, and that makes him even greater." Yamal's opening goal came on 70 seconds, the fastest of his career, but the coach was equally pleased with his assist. "Today we enjoyed [Yamal's] magic again, but he puts his magic at the service of the team," he said.

Yamal has contributed 18 goals in his last eight games for club and country, scoring 11 and assisting seven. He credited familiarity with club teammate Livakovic for his second goal. "I know him from training," Yamal said. He is a contender for the 2026 Men's Ballon d'Or, after finishing runner-up in 2025.

Spain next face Czechia on Oct. 3, then Croatia again on Oct. 6.