Lamine Yamal completes football at 19 as Argentina betray Messi

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time. The match was dominated by the narrative of 19-year-old Lamine Yamal embracing a tearful Lionel Messi after the final whistle, a symbolic passing of the torch.

Yamal, at 19 years and 6 days, became the youngest player ever to win both the World Cup and the European Championship. He played through a hamstring injury and maintained an unbeaten record in 28 competitive matches for Spain. In major tournaments, he has started 13 matches and won all of them – the longest 100% win rate for any European player. Alongside teammate Pau Cubarsi, he became just the fourth and fifth teenagers to start and win a World Cup final, after Pele, Giuseppe Bergomi, and Kylian Mbappe.

Argentina's confrontational approach

Argentina's tactics were heavily criticized for their aggression from the first whistle. In the first half, they committed more fouls (9) than passes (8) in the attacking third. They became the first team in World Cup final history to fail to register a single shot in 90 minutes. Spain had 12 shots on target, Argentina none.

Referee Slavko Vincic was lenient, with Alexis Mac Allister's foul on Dani Olmo going unpunished. Spain fans sarcastically chanted the name of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, referencing conspiracy theories. Messi himself suggested the referee should send off Marc Cucurella for talking with his hand over his mouth. Enzo Fernandez’s reckless charge on Pau Cubarsi just before extra time warranted a second yellow card.

Reactions and aftermath

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expressed "sincere gratitude" to Yamal: "He played great football, sacrificed for the collective good. It is not just special talent, but special talent with special temperament." Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart praised Yamal's composure under provocation: "He didn't react, he stood up to it."

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, whose contract expires in December, broke down in tears when asked about Messi's future and left the press conference. After the match, unsavoury scenes erupted: Leandro Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat, and Gavi was thrown to the ground.

Messi, at 39, likely played his final World Cup, gazing tearfully at Argentina fans. But in Lamine Yamal, the tournament has a future star.