'Legend' or 'regrets'? A final that will define Lamine Yamal's World Cup

Lamine Yamal's stats for Spain are remarkable: he has not lost in 27 competitive matches and has won all 12 major tournament games he has started, the best 100% win rate among European players. However, his current World Cup performance has been understated: just one goal, no assists, despite attempting 49 dribbles (most in the tournament) and completing 22 (second only to Messi's 25).

The comparisons to Lionel Messi are inevitable, especially given the famous photo of a five-month-old Yamal being bathed by a 20-year-old Messi. Yamal has already played in a Champions League semi-final, won the European Championship, and inherited Messi's number 10 shirt at Barcelona. With 151 appearances for Barcelona by age 19, he far surpasses Messi's 41 at the same age.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente warns against comparing Yamal to Messi and Maradona: "The worst mistake would be to compare him to them. He is in the midst of a process." Yamal himself admits he is not fully fit but tries to replicate the feeling he had playing on concrete pitches in his childhood neighbourhood.

The final against Argentina is not only about winning the trophy but also about proving he can be decisive. "If he wins the World Cup, no one will care how many goals he scored," said one Spain fan. "He'll be a legend. If we lose, he'll regret not showing his best." Yamal says: "If we win, no one will remember whether I scored. The important thing is winning."