Spain star Lamine Yamal promised to appear stronger during his country's national team's upcoming matches in the World Cup.
Spain will play against Belgium on Friday evening in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Lamine Yamal said via Mundo Deportivo newspaper: "I feel very excited to show my true self. The fans remember what happens in the knockout stages, and since the round of 16 and the quarterfinals, my excitement has risen even more. The closer the big matches get, the better version of myself I show. I trust in my ability to shine in the decisive stages."
He added, "I handled the recovery period calmly so that I could reach the best condition at this time. I feel that I am in a very good state, and I want to prove what Spain can offer, and what I can offer as well."
He continued, "I am the person who demands the most from myself. I have not reached my goal with Barcelona, and I have not reached it yet with the national team. I know that I am capable of delivering a better level."
He went on, "The win over Portugal gave us great confidence, because they are one of the strongest teams in the tournament, but we know that every match in the World Cup is different."
He continued, "If we face Morocco or France, it will be a special match, but whoever we face, our goal will be to win and qualify for the final."
He went on, "What Messi is doing in the World Cup is amazing. Everyone knows his value, but his current level has surprised many. I am also happy to see Neymar and Cristiano at this level, as they created the childhood of our generation."
He completed, "Everyone trusts me, and this is a beautiful thing for me. I do not consider it pressure, but rather a motivation to enjoy myself more on the pitch. There are those who believe in you, and there are those who wait for you to fall. What matters to me is to stay calm, and continue our path of achieving victories."
He went on, "I deal with criticism in a positive way. When you perform well, everyone falls silent. People thought I was angry because I did not score, but that is not true. My goal is not just to score, but to be more influential in the match."
He explained, "I was away from the pitches for nearly two months, and it is natural that I need more matches to regain the best version of myself."
He stressed, "Thibaut Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and he will make my task more difficult, but I will enter the match with a winning mentality."
He concluded his statements, "Julian Alvarez is a top-class player, and any team would wish to sign him. If he joins Barcelona, we will welcome him with open arms, because he suits the team's style."
Spain will play against Belgium on Friday evening in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals.
A refereeing crew led by Michael Oliver will officiate the Spain vs Belgium match in the quarterfinals.
Spain qualified for the quarterfinals by defeating Portugal 1-0, while Belgium defeated the United States 4-1.
The winner of the Spain vs Belgium match will play against the winner of the France vs Morocco match in the semifinals.
