The mark had stood since Kluivert scored for the Netherlands in the group stage of the 1996 European Championship. Yamal, 19 years and 68 days old, needed one moment of pressing to bury it.
Marc Guéhi dwelled on the ball inside his own half. Yamal robbed him of the ball, drove into the box and slotted past James Trafford. Only Nandor Hidegkuti for Hungary on 25 November 1953 and Tommy Ring for Scotland on 6 April 1957 have put a ball past England quicker at Wembley.
Kane misses from the spot
England hit back before the break through Anthony Gordon in the 36th minute and Harry Kane on 40, and Thomas Tuchel’s side then had a route to a two-goal cushion after 54 minutes. A VAR intervention gave England a penalty for a foul on Jude Bellingham. Kane took it himself, slipped as he made contact, and watched the ball smash the bar.
De la Fuente’s hour changes turn it around
Luis de la Fuente had already reshuffled by then. Álex Baena, on for Nico Williams, made it 2-2 in the 60th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal, on for Ferran Torres, took the winner 14 minutes later.
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The result stretched Spain’s unbeaten run to 39 matches, and it was the world champions’ first outing since the World Cup.
Yamal on the press that started it
Speaking after the match, Yamal put the opening goal down to instruction rather than instinct.
“The boss really pushes us to press; I always say I want to help the team. Sometimes I lose focus, but other times I win the ball back, find myself one-on-one, and manage to score.”
A note for the Ballon d’Or jury
Yamal used social media to sign off his Ballon d’Or campaign, posting on Instagram.
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“Hate me or love me, I don’t care.”
Baena, one of the players who had rescued Spain at Wembley, commented “Ballon d’Or” underneath the post.
Voting closes today, with the ceremony on 26 October at the London Palladium.
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