Spain brushes past Austria 3-0 but Lamine Yamal’s three-year-old brother Keyne steals the World Cup spotlight

Spain produced its best performance of the tournament to sweep aside Austria at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, securing a spot in the round of 16 for the first time since 2010. Mikel Oyarzabal continued his scoring run with two goals, taking his tournament tally to four, while Lamine Yamal was named MVP.

Yamal’s mixed night

Despite the award, Yamal wore a serious expression. The 18-year-old winger has not yet reached the unstoppable form he showed at Euro 2024 and acknowledged his frustration. Coach Luis de la Fuente backed him to deliver soon.

He wants to show his football identity. At a World Cup a player of his level has to present his credentials. He is calm but motivated. He knows other players are showing that image and he hasn’t fully done so. He will appear the next day.

Keyne’s explosion of joy

After Oyarzabal’s second goal sealed the result, cameras panned to the stands and caught Keyne, Lamine’s three-year-old brother, roaring “vamos” with clenched fists and a fierce expression while being held by a family member. The clip spread instantly across social media, drawing more attention than the Hollywood celebrities present, including Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Timothée Chalamet and Rosalía.

A tender post-match confession

When reporters showed Lamine the footage, the Barcelona forward broke into a smile and spoke emotionally about his sibling.

It moves me to see my brother happy, to see my mother living the life she always dreamed of, and to see my friends enjoying themselves. My brother means everything to me. He is like my own son and I am in love with him.

The mother in the frame

Not everything about the celebration went perfectly. Journalist Fran Guillén joked on X that “the blonde in front” had obstructed what would have been the sticker of all time. Fellow Spain international Borja Iglesias replied with a wink, revealing the woman was the mother of double goalscorer Oyarzabal. “The blonde in front gave you a brace this afternoon, mate,” Iglesias wrote.

What lies ahead

Spain will travel to Dallas to face either Croatia or Portugal in the round of 16 on 6 July. Yamal said he feels fully recovered from the injury that disrupted his preparation and is indifferent about the opponent, though he admitted it would be “an honour to play against Cristiano Ronaldo.” He warned that the tournament has entered its critical phase: “The important moment is now because if you lose you go home.”