The 0-0 draw between Spain and the “minnow” team Cape Verde in Group H of the 2026 World Cup has left a sad aftermath for the fans from the land of bullfighting. After the match, camera lenses caught the moment the young star Lamine Yamal looked full of disappointment, receiving comfort from his girlfriend in the stands.
The Barcelona prodigy was not named in the starting lineup. He was only brought onto the pitch from the bench in the final 20 minutes of the match when Spain was completely deadlocked against Cape Verde’s disciplined defense.
However, Yamal’s presence could not help “La Roja” make a difference. Despite controlling 62% of possession and unleashing up to 23 shots, Spain still had to accept sharing the points on an unlucky matchday.
After the final whistle, Yamal went up to the stands to meet his relatives and friends. Here, his girlfriend – model and presenter Ines Garcia – offered the young star tender gestures to soothe his sorrow following the disappointing result.
Ines Garcia, 21, just made her relationship with Yamal public last month. She made the long journey to the US to directly watch and cheer for her boyfriend in the first World Cup of his career.
In the stands, Ines Garcia stood out in a Spanish national team jersey with Yamal’s name printed on it. Accompanying her were the player’s family and close friends, all of whom wore the number 19 jersey to fuel the star born in 2007.
Even though he only played for a few minutes at the end of the match, this draw is clearly a major shock for an ambitious player like Yamal. Being held to a draw by a team ranked 65 places lower in the FIFA rankings is a splash of cold water on Spain’s championship ambitions.
