Lamine Yamal's first World Cup goal had Spain celebrating, and his girlfriend, Ines Garcia, may have been the loudest supporter of them all.
The 18-year-old sensation scored his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal just 10 minutes into Spain's Group H match against Saudi Arabia on Sunday, putting an exclamation point on his long-awaited arrival at soccer's biggest tournament. Garcia, who was in attendance for the match, wasted little time celebrating the moment on social media.
The 21-year-old influencer first reposted a fan's Instagram Story that read, "Ines was right... Lamine is in top form."
She then added her own glowing review.
"The best player in the world is at 2,000,000%, and he's also in good hands," Garcia wrote alongside heart emojis.
Many fans entered the tournament eager to see the Barcelona phenom perform on the World Cup stage for the first time, but a hamstring injury delayed his debut as a starter. Yamal came off the bench in Spain's opening match against Cape Verde, a frustrating 0-0 draw in which Spain dominated possession but failed to find the net. Against Saudi Arabia, however, Yamal needed only 10 minutes to make his mark.
The winger slid in to finish a cross and send Spanish fans into celebration, showing exactly why many view him as one of the sport's brightest young stars. Garcia has been by his side throughout the journey.
The couple went public with their relationship in May, and Garcia recently revealed she overcame her fear of flying to travel to the United States and support him during the tournament.
Ahead of the World Cup, Yamal also made headlines after sending Garcia a bouquet of red roses accompanied by a handwritten note that read, "Te quiero," or "I love you."
Now, with his first World Cup goal officially in the books, Garcia appears convinced there's much more to come.
Yamal entered the tournament as one of soccer's most decorated young stars. He helped Spain win Euro 2024, finished runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, and has already won multiple Kopa Trophies, awarded annually to the world's best player under 21.
Spain will next face Uruguay as it looks to secure first place in Group H.
