Lamine Yamal completes football at 19 as Argentina betray Messi

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Lamine Yamal completes football at 19 as Argentina betray Messi Figure caption, Dominant Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup after extra timeByPhil McNulty Chief football writer at New York New Jersey StadiumPublished31 minutes agoWhen 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.

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 Details

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. 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. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lamine Yamal embraced Lionel Messi at the end of the World Cup finalSpain 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.

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.

What Experts Say

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.

"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.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.