Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has identified Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal as the Messi and Ronaldo successors, expressing confidence that the France and Barcelona stars will become the leading figures in football’s next generation.
The Spanish manager believes the two players are capable of defining a new era following the international retirements of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose influence has shaped world football for more than two decades.
Speaking to EFE ahead of Spain’s final two Nations League group matches against the Czech Republic and England, De la Fuente described himself as a fervent admirer of both legendary players.
He praised their extraordinary achievements, longevity and determination to keep competing at the highest level, even after winning almost every major honour available in football.
“They have been an example for the world of soccer. Players who had already won everything and still wanted to win. At 39 and 41, they were an example of performance, behavior, and sportsmanship,” De la Fuente said.
The Spain coach also rejected suggestions that Ronaldo’s international departure from Portugal was a bittersweet experience following his reported disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus.
“No, no way, God forbid,” he responded when asked whether he considered the Portuguese forward’s farewell to the national team a disappointing conclusion.
De la Fuente names football’s next generation
When discussing the players expected to become football’s leading personalities, De la Fuente explained that the sport has consistently produced exceptional talents capable of succeeding previous generations.
He recalled how different periods were associated with iconic figures, beginning with Pele, followed by Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona, before the era dominated by Messi and Ronaldo.
“In their time there was Pele, then Cruyff arrived, then Maradona, then Cristiano and Messi, and now other phenomena will soon appear because they’re already here,” he said.
The Spanish tactician subsequently named Mbappe and Yamal as the players he believes will shape the future of the sport.
“They are going to mark an era in soccer, for sure,” he declared.
Mbappe has established himself as one of the world’s most prominent attacking players, while Yamal has attracted widespread attention through his performances for Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
Although they are at different stages of their careers, De la Fuente believes both possess the quality and potential to become major reference points in international football.
He also argued that football should have several outstanding personalities competing for attention rather than depending on one dominant individual.
“There need to be two or three players who are references and who create that spirit of joy, of following, and of what sport is a bit: rivalry, always healthy,” he explained.
International football prepares for life without Messi and Ronaldo
The comments come at a significant moment for international football, with a FIFA international window taking place without either Messi or Ronaldo for the first time in 23 years.
The last time an international window featured neither player was in August 2003, before they became the defining figures of an extraordinary period in the sport.
Argentina and Portugal are now preparing to play their respective fixtures without their biggest stars, highlighting the transition taking place in international football.
Messi and Ronaldo’s absence represents a major change after years in which their performances, achievements and rivalry dominated conversations about the world’s best footballers.
Their influence extended beyond individual brilliance, with both players setting remarkable standards of consistency and competitiveness throughout their international careers.
However, De la Fuente believes football already has emerging talents capable of attracting similar attention and inspiring supporters around the world.
His selection of Mbappe and Yamal reflects the growing expectation that the two forwards could become central figures in the sport’s next chapter.
Mbappe and Yamal to miss Thursday’s international fixtures
Despite De la Fuente’s confidence in their future, neither Mbappe nor Yamal will feature when their respective countries play on Thursday.
Mbappe is set to miss France’s Nations League encounter against Italy at San Siro because of a hamstring problem.
France coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed the forward’s absence on Wednesday, making it clear that the national team would not take unnecessary risks with its captain.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported that the injury was not believed to be serious. Nevertheless, Mbappe missed Wednesday’s training session to work with the medical team.
Zidane subsequently called up Paris Saint-Germain forward Senny Mayulu as a replacement for the injured attacker.
Yamal, meanwhile, will not play when Spain face the Czech Republic in Prague after experiencing inflammation in his right knee.
The Barcelona winger has been dealing with the problem since the Champions League match against Aston Villa on November 3.
His condition prompted him to remain in Barcelona and delay his arrival at the Spanish national team camp.
De la Fuente explained that leaving the teenager out of Thursday’s match was a precautionary decision designed to prevent the problem from worsening.
“He was probably willing to play, and if we had had an emergency, we would have decided to line him up. But it wasn’t worth taking any risk,” he said.
Yamal expected back ahead of England encounter
Despite missing the Czech Republic match, Yamal is expected to rejoin the Spanish squad shortly afterwards.
De la Fuente said the youngster could arrive on Thursday night or Friday morning, giving him the opportunity to participate in two training sessions before Spain’s meeting with England on Sunday.
The encounter will take place at the Metropolitano, with the Spanish coach hopeful that Yamal will be available for selection.
He described the winger’s discomfort as minor and maintained that there was no reason to expose him to unnecessary risk against the Czech Republic.
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Mbappe is also expected to receive time to recover before France’s final group match against Turkey on Sunday.
However, Zidane declined to guarantee that the forward would be fit for the encounter, offering a cautious response when asked about his availability.
“We’ll see,” the France coach said.
For De la Fuente, the emergence of Mbappe and Yamal is evidence that football’s next generation is already taking shape. Their future achievements will determine how they measure up against the remarkable legacies of Messi and Ronaldo.
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