Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal: A Rivalry Shaped by Spain's Edge Over France

Kylian Mbappe Faces Lamine Yamal at the 2026 World Cup Semifinals

On Tuesday, the spotlight will be on Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal as Spain and France meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals. This marks their first encounter on this grand stage.

The rivalry between these two talents has grown over recent years. Yamal rose through Barcelona’s youth ranks while Mbappe transferred to La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid. Despite Mbappe’s individual brilliance, Yamal and his teams have often come out ahead in their duels.

A One-Sided Record So Far

Lamine Yamal holds the upper hand with eight wins out of ten matches against Kylian Mbappe. None of their meetings ended in a draw. Although Mbappe has scored more goals individually during these clashes, Barcelona and Spain have typically prevailed overall.

Total: Yamal leads with 8 wins, Mbappe has 2. Yamal recorded 9 goals and 1 assist; Mbappe scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists.

World Cup Records for Both Players

Kylian Mbappe shines on the World Cup stage despite difficulties against Yamal. He has reached at least the semifinals in all three World Cups he played, including two finals. At the 2026 tournament, Mbappe shares the top scorer spot with Lionel Messi, both netting eight goals. This puts Mbappe second in the all-time World Cup scoring charts at just 27 years old.

Lamine Yamal, younger and less experienced, missed part of the tournament due to a hamstring injury. Yet, he contributed to Spain reaching the semifinals for only the third time ever.

* Tournament ongoing

Scoring and Career Overview

Mbappe has amassed 376 club goals and 64 international goals in 590 matches. Yamal has 49 club goals and 7 international goals from 160 matches. Age explains some difference but their playing styles differ too — Yamal leans more toward creating chances, tallying 52 club assists and 12 international assists.

Trophy Count Comparison

Mbappe has collected 11 trophies, including a World Cup title, league titles in France, and several domestic cups. Meanwhile, Yamal has seven trophies, mostly with Barcelona, including a European Championship with Spain.

Mbappe’s haul benefits from a longer career at top clubs, though Barcelona has overshadowed Real Madrid since his arrival.