Football’s next generation already has two potential leaders, according to Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, who has identified Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal as the players capable of taking over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish manager believes the France forward and Barcelona youngster will become defining figures in the sport following the international departures of the two football legends.
Speaking to EFE ahead of Spain’s final two Nations League group matches against the Czech Republic and England, De la Fuente described himself as a fervent admirer of Messi and Ronaldo.
He praised their remarkable careers, pointing to their achievements, longevity and determination to keep winning despite having already collected almost every major honour in football.
“They have been an example for the world of soccer. Players who had already won everything and still wanted to win. At 39 and 41, they were an example of performance, behavior, and sportsmanship,” he said.
De la Fuente also dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo’s departure from Portugal’s national team was a disappointing conclusion to his international career following his reported disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus.
“No, no way, God forbid,” the Spain manager responded when asked whether he considered the Portuguese forward’s farewell bittersweet.
De la Fuente expects Mbappe and Yamal to mark an era
Discussing the players expected to dominate football in the coming years, De la Fuente explained that the sport has always produced exceptional talents to follow previous generations.
He recalled the influence of Pele, Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona before the emergence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, arguing that another group of outstanding players is already making its presence felt.
“In their time there was Pele, then Cruyff arrived, then Maradona, then Cristiano and Messi, and now other phenomena will soon appear because they’re already here,” he said.
He specifically identified Mbappe and Yamal as the players he expects to become major figures in world football.
“They are going to mark an era in soccer, for sure,” De la Fuente declared.
Mbappe has established himself among the world’s leading attacking players, while Yamal’s performances for Barcelona and Spain have brought him considerable recognition at a remarkably young age.
The Spain coach believes their emergence will help sustain football’s global appeal as Messi and Ronaldo’s international careers give way to a new generation.
He also stressed that the sport benefits from having several outstanding players competing for recognition instead of depending on one individual.
“There need to be two or three players who are references and who create that spirit of joy, of following, and of what sport is a bit: rivalry, always healthy,” he added.
International football faces historic change
The departure of Messi and Ronaldo from international football has coincided with a significant moment in the sport’s calendar.
For the first time in 23 years, a FIFA international window is taking place without either player.
The previous occasion was in August 2003, before the Argentine and Portuguese stars became the central figures in one of football’s most celebrated rivalries.
Argentina and Portugal will now play their respective international fixtures without their biggest names, underlining the transition taking place in the game.
Both players have enjoyed extraordinary international careers, becoming global sporting icons through their performances, records and contributions to their national teams.
Their absence leaves room for other players to become the leading attractions in international competitions.
De la Fuente’s selection of Mbappe and Yamal reflects his confidence that the sport already has the talent required to move forward without losing its appeal.
Mbappe and Yamal to miss Thursday’s matches
Interestingly, neither player identified by De la Fuente will be available for his country’s match on Thursday.
Mbappe is set to miss France’s Nations League encounter against Italy at San Siro because of a hamstring problem.
France coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed the forward’s absence on Wednesday, making it clear that the national team would not take unnecessary risks with its captain.
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French newspaper L’Equipe reported that the injury was not considered serious. However, Mbappe missed Wednesday’s training session to work with the medical staff.
Zidane subsequently called up Paris Saint-Germain forward Senny Mayulu as his replacement for the fixture.
Yamal will also be absent when Spain face the Czech Republic in Prague after experiencing inflammation in his right knee.
The Barcelona winger has been dealing with the problem since the Champions League match against Aston Villa on November 3.
His condition prompted him to remain in Barcelona and delay his arrival at the Spanish national team camp.
De la Fuente explained that leaving the youngster out of Thursday’s encounter was a precautionary decision rather than an indication that his condition was particularly serious.
“He was probably willing to play, and if we had had an emergency, we would have decided to line him up. But it wasn’t worth taking any risk,” he said.
Spain hope Yamal will return for England fixture
Despite missing the Czech Republic match, Yamal is expected to rejoin the Spanish squad shortly afterwards.
De la Fuente said the Barcelona winger could arrive on Thursday night or Friday morning, potentially giving him two training sessions before Spain face England on Sunday.
The encounter will take place at the Metropolitano, with the coach hopeful that Yamal will be available for selection.
De la Fuente described the youngster’s discomfort as minor and maintained that there was no need to expose him to unnecessary physical risks.
Mbappe is also expected to receive time to recover ahead of France’s final group match against Turkey on Sunday.
However, Zidane was cautious when asked whether the forward would be ready for that fixture.
“We’ll see,” the France coach responded.
For now, De la Fuente believes Mbappe and Yamal have the potential to become the leading personalities of football’s next generation. Their performances in the coming years will determine how successfully they establish their own legacies after the extraordinary era of Messi and Ronaldo.
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