Lamine Yamal boasts Lionel Messi’s dribbling qualities and is blessed with David Beckham’s passing – he doesn’t need to run a game to make an impact.That’s the view of European football broadcaster Andy Brassell, who raved about the Barcelona winger ahead of Spain’s World Cup semi-final against France on Tuesday, live on talkSPORT.Yamal has helped guide Spain into their first World Cup semi-final since 2010GettyYamal went into the global tournament in North America on the back of suffering the biggest injury of his career to date.Injury fearsThe 19-year-old tore his hamstring in his left leg in April – abruptly ending his season as he missed the final six games of Barca’s run-in which saw Hansi Flick‘s side retain the LaLiga title.While the La Masia graduate didn’t require surgery, there were fears that he could be absent for the start of Spain‘s World Cup campaign.Those doubts were compounded when the forward played no part in Spain’s pre-World Cup warm-up matches against Iraq and Peru.In total, Yamal has been unavailable for 17 games for club and country across the 2025/26 season as a result of four separate injuries.But despite only returning to full training on June 11, he made his World Cup debut four days later in Spain’s 0-0 draw against Cape Verde.He started – and was subsequently withdrawn – in his side’s following three games, before lasting the full match in the late wins over Portugal and Belgium in the last-16 and quarter-finals respectively.However, he has so far failed to set the tournament alight as he did at Euro 2024; the youngster has chipped in with just a solitary assist – doing so during Spain’s 4-0 group stage win over Saudi Arabia.Though his quality has been evident, having scooped two Player of the Match awards to help La Roja into their first World Cup semi-final since they won the tournament in 2010.And Brassell believes Yamal doesn’t need to be on his A-game in order for Spain to win – insisting his football IQ can allow his teammates to shine.Yamal has featured in all six of Spain’s World Cup matches – starting the last five gamesGettyHe is still awaiting his first goal of the tournament in North AmericaSpeaking on talkSPORT’s Trans Europe Express show, Brassell said: “It’s been a sort of soft launch into the tournament for him, but it felt to me that his performance against Belgium was his best so far.“I think it’s fair to say and I think it was testament to A, how he’s grown into the game and B, how smartly Rudi Garcia managed those last two Belgium games that he brought in Joaquin Seys to deal with him really, and that worked pretty well.“I thought he played him quite well Seys, generally, especially someone who is relatively inexperienced at this level.“But look, the beauty of Lamine Yamal, is even though he’s got all the talent in the world, he never plays like a guy who feels like he has to beat seven players and score himself to win the game.“There are so many different ways that he can affect it, so he can beat three or four and commit players and score, but he can also play the right pass early.“That’s what’s always made him so special – he’s Lionel Messi and David Beckham combined really.Yamal is following in the footsteps of Barcelona legend Messi at the Nou CampGetty“There are so many different ways that he can affect the game, it’s like he’s several different football brains in one.“So if there’s anyone who’s well equipped to cope with the fact that he is a little bit physically diminished at the moment, that’s it.“And the idea that Spain can’t win if he doesn’t pull a worldie performance out of the bag, I don’t think is right.“Because I don’t think that’s his aim when he goes into a game as well – just affect a couple of moments – and if he can do that it’s easily enough for Spain to win.“And they’ve got so many different goal scoring options, you’ve got [Mikel] Merino who can drift in from midfield, you’ve got Ferran Torres who can come off the bench and get you a goal, he’s probably the best finisher in the squad.”And it’s Spain’s stacked squad which is the reason why Brassell believes they have the tools to potentially dominate France with the ball.Arsenal midfielder Merino has come off the bench to score late on against Portugal and BelgiumGettyHe added: “That sort of depth I think is what allows them to cope with Lamine Yamal not being 100 per cent, with Nico Williams getting injured during the tournament.“They have had injuries coming into and during this tournament that would finish a lot of good teams, that would blow them way off course.“They were able to go into this [Belgium] game and they didn’t start Pedri which is ridiculous really, and yet they still have a level of control and they still get it done in the end.”While France go into their meeting with Spain at the AT&T Stadium as the favourites, Yamal boasts a 100 per cent winning record against Les Bleus.He marked his first clash against France with a stunning strike from distance in Spain’s 2-1 semi-final win at Euro 2024.And he followed that up with a double in a thrilling 5-4 Nations League semi-final victory in 2025.The stage is set for Yamal to deliver in what promises to be another last-four classic.World Cup WhatsAppDon't miss an update from talkSPORT in our dedicated World Cup WhatsApp channel.Search for ‘talkSPORT World Cup’ in your ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp and we’ll drop the proper, unfiltered football chat straight to your lock screen—no fluff, just pure talkSPORT energy.It’s where you’ll find out all the new rules to watch out for, England and Scotland reaction and big match player ratings. Plus there will be loads of debates on the biggest talking points as Haaland, Mbappe, Kane and the biggest names in football descend on America, Canada and Mexico.