Yamal Equals Okocha’s Dribbling Record from 1998

Lamine Yamal.
Photo Credit : FabrizioRomano

Spanish teenager, Lamine Yamal, has matched a World Cup dribbling record that has stood since 1998. Statistics show the Barcelona winger is averaging 12 successful dribbles per ninety minutes at the ongoing 2026 tournament. This record was last achieved by former Super Eagles captain, Jay-Jay Okocha, during Nigeria’s campaign at the France 1998 World Cup, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

ESPN reports that Yamal’s average is the highest by any player who has played more than 200 minutes at a single World Cup since Okocha managed the same rate of twelve dribbles per ninety minutes 28 years ago. This highlights the teenager’s rising impact on Spain’s journey in the tournament.

Okocha is one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers. He played all three of the Super Eagles’ group matches in the 1998 finals in France. He started in their memorable 3-2 win over Spain in Nantes and their 1-0 victory over Bulgaria. Nigeria’s campaign ended in the round of 16, where they lost 4-1 to Denmark at the Stade de France.

There was no round of 32 at that tournament. Teams went straight from the group stage to the last-16.

In the match against Spain, Okocha inspired a Nigerian side that came from behind twice to win one of the most famous matches in the country’s football history. Goals from Mutiu Adepoju, an own goal from Andoni Zubizarreta, and a stunning long-range strike from Sunday Oliseh sealed the victory. Statistics from the match, later reviewed by FIFA, showed Okocha completed nine dribbles, created two chances, and delivered three crosses in a standout performance. He received a retrospective Player of The Match award earlier this year, 28 years after the game.

Okocha’s dribbling feats in that tournament followed an even more impressive display four years earlier. He completed 15 successful dribbles against Italy at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. This figure remains the record for the most successful dribbles by any player in a single World Cup match.

Yamal, who turned 19 before the tournament, has been one of the standout players at the 2026 finals so far. Spain has won all eight matches in which the teenager has started at a major tournament. This gives him the best record with a 100 percent win rate for any European player in a World Cup or European Championship starting line-up.

He also became, along with team-mate Pau Cubarsi, one of the first pairs of teenagers to start a World Cup knockout match together for any nation in 68 years. Pele and Antonio Altafini did this for Brazil in 1958.

Luis de la Fuente’s side smoothly passed Austria in the round of 32 without any trouble. Yamal, who got over a hamstring injury he picked up while playing for Barcelona in April, has continued to grow into his role as Spain’s key player heading into the knockout rounds.