Barcelona Teenager Yamal Wins LaLiga Player of the Season Award

Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
TT

Barcelona Teenager Yamal Wins LaLiga Player of the Season Award

Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 11 , 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has been named LaLiga Player of the season, the Spanish league announced on Friday.

The 18-year-old helped Barca retain their domestic crown, became the first player to win the league's Player of the Month award three times in one season and finished as the club's top scorer in La Liga with 16 goals and 11 assists.

Barcelona's Hansi Flick was named the Coach of the Year on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Regarding Yamal, Barca said in a statement: "He is the proverbial headache for opponent defenses, who have to make a real effort to try to stop the blaugrana's attacking threats.

"Beyond the intangibles, the young Catalan scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists, with no other LaLiga player providing that many passes leading to goals."

Yamal, who has been sidelined with groin issues multiple times this term, is expected to be fit for Spain at the World Cup starting next week in Canada, Mexico and the US.

He missed the last six games of the season for Barcelona due to a hamstring injury.

Yamal exploded onto the scene at 16 and was an integral part of Spain's record fourth European Championship triumph in 2024.



Egypt to Assess Salah After He Asked to Be Substituted, Says Coach

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)
TT

Egypt to Assess Salah After He Asked to Be Substituted, Says Coach

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Egypt v Iran - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US - June 26, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah takes a corner kick. (Reuters)

Egypt coach Hossam ‌Hassan said Mohamed Salah would be assessed after the captain asked to be substituted during Friday's 1-1 World Cup draw with Iran, leaving his fitness uncertain ahead of the knockout phase

Salah appeared visibly frustrated as he was replaced 12 minutes into the second half. Hassan said it was too early to determine the extent of the issue though it did not appear to be serious.

"He ‌asked to ‌come off. If a player asks ‌to ⁠be substituted, it ⁠means he felt something," Hassan told beIN Sports.

"We'll make sure what the problem is. We'll assess him."

Hassan said left back Ahmed Fatouh would also be evaluated after suffering an injury, while expressing hope that midfielder Hamdi Fathi would recover in ⁠time for Egypt's round of 32 ‌game against Australia on ‌Friday after missing the Iran match.

Despite the fitness concerns, ‌Hassan was confident in the depth of his ‌squad after Egypt secured second spot in Group G with five points, behind leaders Belgium on goal difference.

"I have warriors. I have Egyptian players who are ‌worthy of the trust placed in them," he said.

"I don't worry about missing ⁠players. I ⁠have complete confidence in everyone in this squad. If I worried every time we had an injury, then I wouldn't be fit to coach the Egypt national team."

Hassan hailed Egypt's progress to the knockout stage as a proud achievement for the country, the Arab world and Africa, saying his side would now focus on preparing for the next round.

"We'll prepare ourselves, work hard and do everything we can for what's coming next," he said.


Pino, Williams Injuries Mar Spain's World Cup Progress

Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP
Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP
TT

Pino, Williams Injuries Mar Spain's World Cup Progress

Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP
Yeremy Pino's World Cup may have been ended by a shoulder injury. Ulises RUIZ / AFP

Spain's progress to the last 32 of the World Cup came at a cost as Yeremy Pino's tournament appears over, while Nico Williams suffered another muscle injury in Friday's 1-0 win over Uruguay.

Crystal Palace's Pino was forced to play out the final few minutes struggling with a shoulder injury after Luis de la Fuente had used his three windows to make substitutions, said AFP.

Williams was only introduced 15 minutes from time after being nursed back into action after an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao.

But he ended the game with an issue that could be a bodyblow to La Roja's hopes of World Cup glory.

The latest injuries leave De la Fuente desperately short of options in wide areas.

Lamine Yamal is yet to play 90 minutes in over two months on his return from a hamstring injury and Liverpool's new signing Victor Munoz has not featured at the World Cup after a setback in his return from a muscle problem.

"Nico was experiencing some slight discomfort. It could be a strain or just fatigue, we'll have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure," said De la Fuente.

"However, and I am really sad about this, what really concerns me is Yeremy's injury. It looks bad and there is a very strong possibility he will miss the rest of the tournament."

Spain were far from their fluid best in Guadalajara as Alex Baena's goal, thanks to a goalkeeping error from Fernando Muslera, secured top spot in Group H.

The European champions will next face Austria or Algeria in Los Angeles.

De la Fuente conceded his side must improve once the knockout stages get underway, but praised Spain's discipline as Uruguay lost their heads in bowing out of the tournament.

Some lenient refereeing from American official Ismail Elfath had allowed the South Americans physical approach to thrive until Agustin Canobbio was shown a red card in stoppage time for a wild lunge on Pau Cubarsi.

"I am proud of my players in a match that pushed us to the limit in every sense of the word, physically very demanding and rough, that we stood up to be counted," added De la Fuente.

"We know we can find ourselves in games like this and the most important thing is that we rose to the occasion, even if the performance wasn't particularly dazzling.

"In football, you can't always play with the brilliance you wish for, or that we are capable of showing at other times.

"We maintained an incredibly high level of concentration, responsibility, and composure, and we avoided rising to the many provocations that could have led to serious trouble."


Saudi Arabia’s Failure to Create Chances Sealed Fate, Coach Says

Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia’s Failure to Create Chances Sealed Fate, Coach Says

Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis before the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, USA, 26 June 2026. (EPA)

Saudi ‌Arabia's inability to hold the ball and create attacking chances doomed the team in a goalless draw with Cape Verde at Houston Stadium on Friday in their final World Cup Group H match, coach Georgios Donis said.

"We were very poor ‌in creating ‌actions. One cannot win ‌a ⁠game this way," ⁠he said.

He added that Saudi Arabia had problems putting pressure on Cape Verde's backline aside from a short period of time in the ⁠second half.

"Our line of ‌attack was ‌not doing well. Our greatest problem ‌today was creation and this ‌was self-evident."

Donis praised his players, saying the World Cup journey was a good experience, but ‌he would need to reassess the performance down the ⁠road.

"It ⁠was not what we wanted because when playing in such a match against a team more or less the same level of us our level was not good. This gives cause for concern," he said.

"The journey was good and I would like to thank the players."