Spain swept France off the map in the Nations League semifinal. Luis de la Fuente's team delivered a textbook performance. The central figure, once again, was Lamine Yamal.
The young Barça winger scored two goals and was chosen as MVP. He left behind brilliant plays that brought the stadium to its feet. Today, nobody doubts: he's the best right now.
Neither Dembélé nor Mbappé can keep up with him. Number 19 is dominating every match with astonishing ease. His name is already being mentioned for the Ballon d'Or.
Tension after Spain–France: Tomás Roncero surprises with his silence about Lamine Yamal
Meanwhile, while everyone was praising the Spaniard, Tomás Roncero kept silent and didn't mention a single word about Lamine after the match. The journalist, known for his white passion, focused his analysis from another angle. He spoke about the result, about national pride, but omitted the main protagonist.
It was on his social media where he gave his first assessment. There, curiously, only one name appeared: Cristiano Ronaldo's.
Roncero's message on social media about the Spain–France clash
"We suffered at the end," he began writing on his X account. He continued by recalling that "France, a great team," was on the other side. He dropped the phrase: "Scoring five against the World Cup runners-up is an extraordinary achievement."
The comment went viral more for what it didn't say than for what it expressed. The MVP of the match, Lamine Yamal, wasn't mentioned even once. Many followers criticized the bias in his analysis, but they at least expected a mention of the name that's been shaking up European soccer for weeks.
Tomas Roncero downplays Lamine Yamal
Hours later, in his column in AS, he did mention Lamine. Although he didn't do so with the widespread enthusiasm seen in other media outlets.
DISCURSO de RONCERO: ALUCINA con ESPAÑA y con LAMINE YAMAL BALÓN DE ORO
"Lamine wants the Ballon d'Or," he wrote, but quickly clarified: "That doesn't mean he's going to win it." Roncero justified his skepticism with a technical detail. According to him, the youngster won't be able to compete since he won't play in the Club World Cup.
Tomás Roncero clarifies his words, but keeps his distance from Lamine Yamal
His analysis left a bittersweet taste among many fans. They expected a stronger reaction after the young Spaniard's display.
Some journalists compared his treatment to what he would do if it were a Madridist talent. Social media quickly pointed out the double standard. Lamine Yamal was the MVP, but not for everyone, since Roncero decided to focus elsewhere, which didn't go unnoticed.
Spain celebrates its star while some keep looking the other way
Meanwhile, Spanish fans are celebrating their new gem without any doubts and Lamine is dazzling with every ball he touches. In every tournament, on every stage, he shows unique maturity and talent for his age. He's no longer being compared: he's being recognized and although some still resist surrendering to the evidence, the reality is clear.