When brilliant Spain teenager Lamine Yamal embraced a tearful Lionel Messi at the end of the World Cup final, it looked and felt symbolic. A passing of the torch.
Messi, at 39, gazed long and hard at Argentina’s fans packed around the New York New Jersey Stadium as they sang his name after what may be the last time he graces the game’s biggest stage.
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And, with the world watching, it was Lamine Yamal who offered the great Argentina icon consolation before they fell into each other’s arms.
Barcelona’s number 10 embracing their most legendary number 10.
A different image to the amazing photo of a 20-old Messi bathing a six-month-old Lamine Yamal in September 2007 as part of a charity calendar raffle that went viral once more in the build-up to this game.
The baby boy is now a man, and Messi may be at the end of his World Cup journey.
Lamine Yamal – two decades younger and still in the infancy of his career – has effectively completed international football by lifting the World Cup two years after he came to wider prominence by winning the Euros when Spain beat England.
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He, like Messi a product of Barcelona, came into the tournament troubled by a hamstring injury, but ended it as the youngest player – at 19 years and six days – to win both the World Cup and Euros.
And one of the key storylines contained within this disappointing World Cup final was how Lamine Yamal’s influence was assisted by the purist strategies of his Spain team-mates – while Messi was betrayed by Argentina’s provocative approach.
It yielded nothing, which was what it deserved.
Lamine Yamal is the youngest player to win the World Cup and European Championship at 19 years and six days [Getty Images]
Spain and Lamine Yamal have grown through the tournament to leave him with the world at his feet and football’s two greatest prizes in his pocket.
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As well as having glorious natural gifts, he is also Spain’s lucky charm. They completed their domination of the international stage with Ferran Torres’ decisive 106th-minute strike in extra time.
Lamine Yamal has yet to lose for his country in the 28 competitive matches he has played. He has started 13 games at major tournaments and won all of them – the longest 100% win rate of any European player across major tournaments when starting.
He also became – along with 19-year-old Spain team-mate Pau Cubarsi – just the fourth and fifth teenagers to start a World Cup final and win, after Pele for Brazil in 1958, Italy defender Giuseppe Bergomi in 1982 and Kylian Mbappe with France in 2018.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente spoke afterwards of his “sincere gratitude” to Lamine Yamal.
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“He has played great football that will help him to mature and be even a greater footballer than he already is,” he said.
“He really sacrificed for the collective good. This is very important in my squad. In my opinion he played a great World Cup.”
And this is not simply a special talent, it is a special talent with a special temperament.
He shrugged off Argentina’s obvious attempts to intimidate him as he regularly came into close contact with Nicolas Tagliafico in particular.
Former England goalkeeper and BBC Sport pundit Joe Hart summed it up well.
“Not only did Lamine Yamal not react,” he said. “He stood up to it. He was not rattled and he did not back down. He had the entire team trying to smash him.
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“He just stayed real cool. It was real standout performance from him.
“Lamine Yamal is 19 years old. What a beautiful day for him. He’s 19 and has completed football.”
With virtually his whole career in front of him, and taking in the experience and influence of Spain team-mates such as his captain and player of the tournament Rodri, there is every chance Lamine Yamal will add more successes like this before he is done.
Argentina spoilers wreck Messi’s World Cup hopes
The joy of Lamine Yamal was the sharpest of contrasts to Messi, who looked heartbroken as he stared into those massed ranks of Argentina supporters, the realisation perhaps dawning that this would be the final time he would take such adoration at the World Cup.
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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, like Messi trying to win a second successive World Cup, became highly emotional when asked whether this was the legendary attacker’s final game in the tournament – while also reflecting on his own future with his contract due to expire in December.
Scaloni said he had not spoken to Messi, before bursting into tears himself then leaving the news conference.
Messi’s cause was not helped here by Argentina’s confrontational approach from virtually the first whistle, which left their inspiration and leader effectively a passenger for most of the game.
Spain’s victory was a victory for football because Argentina appeared to be focused on anything but that from early on, when Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic exercised the sort of leniency that has infuriated opponents throughout the World Cup.
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Alexis Mac Allister’s poor challenge on Dani Olmo received nothing more than a brief admonishment, prompting Spain fans to ironically chant the name of Fifa president Gianni Infantino. It was another nod to the conspiracy theorists who claim Argentina’s road to the final has been smoothed out by officialdom.
Argentina great Messi was left in tears once again at full-time [Getty Images]
It was 40 minutes before Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez received the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Mikel Oyarzabal – greeted with heavy sarcasm by many inside this vast bowl of a stadium.
To see Argentina’s obvious talent, which they displayed by overpowering England in the semi-final, reduced to such spoiling tactics was a dismal sight, hardly designed to aid Messi’s genius and influence.
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Messi even got in the act by suggesting the referee should send off Spain’s Marc Cucurella for talking with his hand over his mouth – punishable by a red card if employed in a confrontational manner at this World Cup.
It came after the low point of Argentina’s performance, Enzo Fernandez’s senseless charge at Cubarsi just before the game went into extra time. The Chelsea midfielder was not even looking at the ball when he flattened his opponent. A second yellow card was fully deserved.
Argentina were the first team in the tournament’s history not to have a shot in 90 minutes of a World Cup final. When it did come, in the 117th minute and with desperation mounting, Messi fired off target.
Spain had 12 shots on target, Argentina had none in the entire game.
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In a shocking first half, Argentina committed more fouls than passes in the final third of the pitch. Nine as opposed to eight. It summed their approach.
King Felipe VI of Spain hugs Lamine Yamal after the World Cup win [Getty Images]
Argentina’s players joined Messi in shedding tears after the final whistle, though even that ended in an undignified scrum between players and officials from either side.
Leandro Paredes – as he was too often after coming on as substitute for the second half – was the aggressor, grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat. He was also involved as Spain’s Gavi was thrown to the ground.
This outstanding World Cup should not be remember for such an unsavoury finale.
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Spain may not have been at their best in the final, but they have developed throughout the World Cup, from the shock of being held to a draw in their opening game by Cape Verde to ultimate glory.
The World Cup got the winners it deserved, and in Lamine Yamal it has a star of future tournaments.
Messi’s unforgettable World Cup era may be over – but the Lamine Yamal years could go on for a long time to come.
Read the full article here
