Spain vs. Belgium player ratings: Live grades for Lamine Yamal, others in 2026 World Cup quarterfinal

Two teams vying for a spot in the last four of the 2026 FIFA World Cup do battle as tournament favorites Spain take on fellow top-10 European side Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday.

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Lamine Yamal has yet to fully get into high gear, still less than fully fit thanks to a hamstring injury at the end of the club season. Instead, it has been Spain’s back line which has carried them through the tournament, yet to concede a single goal the entire World Cup thus far.

Belgium, meanwhile, are coming off a thorough demolition of co-hosts United States in their stronghold of Seattle, an impressive performance that anoints the Red Devils as dangerous challengers to any World Cup title hopeful.

The Sporting News brings you a full list of player ratings for the match, analyzing both team’s individual performances from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

LIVE: Follow Spain vs. Belgium updates from 2026 World Cup quarterfinal

Spain vs. Belgium live score

Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)

Spain starting lineup:

4-2-3-1, right to left: 23. Simon (GK) — 12. Porro, 22. Cubarsi, 14. Laporte, 24. Cucurella — 16. Rodri, 8. F. Ruiz — 19. Lamine Yamal, 10. Olmo, 15. Baena — 21. Oyarzabal.

Belgium starting lineup:

4-2-3-1, right to left: 1. Courtois (GK) — 21. Castagne, 25. Ngoy, 4. Mechele, 5. De Cuyper — 23. Raskin, 20. Vanaken — 11. Doku, 7. De Bruyne, 10. Trossard — 17. De Ketelaere.

Spain player ratings vs. Belgium

All ratings are on a 10-point scale.

Starters

Goalkeeper: Unai Simon — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Right-back: Pedro Porro — Grade pending

Extremely active early, helping fill the gap with Lamine Yamal struggling. He was strong defending Jeremy Doku, and also managed to get forward and provide service into the final third.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Right Center-back: Pau Cubarsi — Grade pending

Hardly had any defending to do through the first half, which allowed him to focus largely on his possessional buildup, which was excellent.

That was, until he had to defend sudden aerial presence Charles De Ketelaere and got beat. Then, he picked up a yellow card for grabbing hold of Kevin De Bruyne’s shirt and dragging him to the ground.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left center-back: Aymeric Laporte — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left-back: Marc Cucurella — Grade pending

Hardly had any defending to do for much of the first half, with Leandro Trossard completely nullified. Cucurella used that chance to bomb forward andget in on the action early and often.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Central midfielder: Rodri — Grade pending

Looked back to his best early on, ushering possession forward on all areas of the pitch. Even got himself involved in front of goal as his 10th-minute shot was heroically blocked.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Central midfielder: Fabian Ruiz — Grade pending

The PSG man started in place of Pedri, a big call by head coach Luis de la Fuente. The drop-off in talent was clear early on, as Ruiz was not nearly as influential as Pedri normally is through the first quarter of the match, and his entry passes through the middle were way off target.

However, he managed to get on the scoresheet, with good instincts to pounce on the open space that he filled after Dani Olmo’s shot was saved.

Watch in USA:

Starting in place of Pedri today, Fabián Ruiz did not miss the mark 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QiHmHLmo7i

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 10, 2026

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Right wing: Lamine Yamal — Grade pending

Was very poor early on, lacking his normal influence on the match with only eight touches through the first 15 minutes of the game. He was less than accurate on his crosses and switches too, as he flew one way over the head of Marc Cucurella in the 17th minute and then couldn’t turn effectively between two defenders. Missed wide with a left-footed curler after cutting inside, which is usually his bread and butter.

Started to cook a little once Spain went in front, and won a free-kick which he put on target in the 35th minute that forced a good save out of Thibaut Courtois.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Attacking midfielder: Dani Olmo — Grade pending

Was very good both in possession and in the build-up, often dropping back deep to do some of the on-ball work that Pedri normally would if he were in the lineup, since Ruiz was struggling.

Had the initial shot which resulted in the opening goal by Fabian Ruiz. Was brilliant combining with Mikel Oyarzabal, getting the striker involved and trying to unlock the Belgium back line with some lovely play.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left wing: Alex Baena — Grade pending

Good ball progression early on, and provided some end product too, even if Belgium did well to keep Spain out of the penalty area.

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This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Striker: Mikel Oyarzabal — Grade pending

Didn’t have a ton of touches in the game, but was good in the hold-up department. Played a wonderful one-two with Dani Olmo in the 38th minute that nearly came off, but his back-heel was just cut out at the final moment.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Spain substitutes vs. Belgium

This section will be updated later in the match when substitutes enter off the bench and look to make an impact.

Spain coach vs. Belgium

Luis de la Fuente: Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary after the match has concluded and a proper assessment of the head coach’s tactics and substitutions can be made.

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Belgium player ratings vs. Spain

Starters

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois — Grade pending

Made a good save on Dani Olmo’s 30th-minute shot, but parried it into space where Fabian Ruiz was able to get onto the ball first.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Right-back: Timothy Castagne — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Right center-back: Nathan Ngoy — Grade pending

Very good early in the match as a last-ditch defender, making two blocks in the first 20 minutes of the match, including on Rodri’s open look 

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left center-back: Brandon Mechele — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left-back: Maxime De Cuyper — Grade pending

Very strong defending Lamine Yamal early in the game.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Central midfielder: Nicolas Raskin — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Central midfielder: Hans Vanaken — Grade pending

Youri Tielemans was supposed to start in midfield for Belgium, but picked up an injury during warmups, forcing Hans Vanaken into the middle of the pitch.

Completely invisible through the opening 25 minutes of the match, with only six touches.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Right wing: Jeremy Doku — Grade pending

Active early in the match trying to get Belgium out of jail dribbling through midfield. Forced to do a lot of defending, and had the foul on Lamine Yamal at the top of the penalty area that gave Spain a good chance 34 minutes in.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Attacking midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne — Grade pending

Didn’t have a single touch in the attacking side of the pitch through 30 minutes of the game, which saw Belgium pinned back in their own defensive half for much of the first half.

Finally able to get on the ball as halftime approached, De Bruyne started to make things happen, first delivering the ball for Timothy Castagne which resulted in Belgium’s first goal, and then driving by Pau Cubarsi to get the Spain defender booked.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Left wing: Leandro Trossard — Grade pending

A complete non-factor through the first half-hour, with only four touches and two passes.

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Striker: Charles De Ketelaere — Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis, commentary, and highlights as the match progresses.

Belgium substitutes vs. Spain

This section will be updated later in the match when substitutes enter off the bench and look to make an impact.

Belgium coach vs. Spain

Rudi Garcia: Grade pending

This section will be updated with analysis and commentary after the match has concluded and a proper assessment of the head coach’s tactics and substitutions can be made.

Read more Why is Pedri not starting vs. Belgium? Spain star benched for World Cup 2026 quarterfinal