Lionel Messi of Argentina and Lamine Yamal of Spain embrace after the Fifa World Cup 2026 Remaining match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. — Reuters
It marked the second time Messi had completed on the dropping aspect in a World Cup remaining, having additionally suffered a 1-0 defeat to Germany within the 2014 decider.
This defeat got here by the hands of Spain and Yamal, broadly thought to be soccer’s subsequent world celebrity.
After the ultimate whistle, Yamal sought out Messi — who went face-to-face for the primary time — and embraced him in a second many followers interpreted as a symbolic handover between two generations of footballing greatness.
The gesture carried added significance as each gamers emerged from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
Messi, born in June 1987, and Yamal, born in July 2007, each began the World Cup remaining, marking the primary time within the event’s historical past that beginning gamers on opposing sides have been separated by no less than 20 years in age. Their birthdays are precisely 20 years and 19 days aside.
Earlier than this match, Messi had known as Yamal a “fantastic” participant and stated he had the potential of attaining one thing historic.
