Robert Lewandowski believes his former Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal did not show his best level at the World Cup, but he was relieved to still see Spain lift the trophy.

La Roja became world champions for the second time with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in New Jersey last Sunday, with Ferran Torres – another former Barca team-mate of Lewandowski's – scoring the only goal in extra time.

Spain are now unbeaten in their last 38 matches in all competitions, the longest-ever run by any European or South American men's international team.

Their run to the trophy was built upon a solid backline, as they only conceded one goal in eight games – the fewest ever shipped by a World Cup-winning team.

They had to find another way to win without the sparkling wing play that led them to the Euro 2024 crown, with Yamal and Nico Williams both coming into the tournament injured.

While Williams did not start a game and was limited to just 108 minutes in six substitute appearances, Yamal appeared in all of La Roja's games and started seven, having recovered from the hamstring issue that curtailed his club season in April.

Yamal only scored one goal – against Saudi Arabia in a 4-0 group-stage win – and failed to provide an assist. He created seven chances, though seven different players laid on more for Luis de la Fuente's side.

In an interview with ESPN, Lewandowski was asked if fans had seen Yamal's best form at the tournament, responding: "Honestly, no, we didn't. 

"The best performance – the best Lamine for me – wasn't last season, but two seasons ago. That was, for me, the best version of Lamine Yamal.

"He's still young, he came to the World Cup after an injury and he didn't play for like eight weeks, so it's tough if you have to start playing in the World Cup, where you don't have time for training from game to game. 

"But he showed really good quality. The Spain players and the team helped Lamine and Lamine also helped the whole team. I think that this cooperation was perfect."

Despite Lewandowski's assessment regarding his best season, Yamal provided more goal involvements (41 – 24 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games for Barca in 2025-26, than he did in 55 matches the previous campaign (39 – 18 goals, 21 assists).

Asked who he was rooting for at the World Cup following Poland's failure to qualify, Lewandowski said: "I know a lot of players from Spain, and I spent so much time in Barcelona with them, so I supported them a lot.

"Of course, from Argentina, I only personally know Lionel [Messi], but he won the last World Cup.

"That's why I supported the Spanish national team. If you play with them, you spend a lot of time together and it's easier to support this team.

"I was happy because I knew they were ready to win the World Cup. They are very young, and the future is in front of them."

Lewandowski left Barca as a free agent at the end of last season and subsequently joined the Chicago Fire, who are third in the Eastern Conference coming out of the MLS mid-season break.