Lamine Yamal aims to be youngest World Cup winner on Sunday
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 18, 2026, 9:00 PM
Last updated Jul 18, 2026
Lamine Yamal, 19, seeks to join an elite group of teenage World Cup winners as Spain faces Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Yamal, who turned 19 just before Spain's semi-final victory over France, was named the best young player at Euro 2024. Despite pre-tournament injury concerns, he has started every match since Spain's opening draw with Cape Verde. This World Cup final will see the young standout match up against Lionel Messi, the oldest outfield player to appear in a final. Yamal hopes to make history while thwarting Messi's bid for his second World Cup title.
- •Yamal is the third-youngest player to feature in a World Cup final.
- •He was a substitute in Spain's opening match but has started since.
- •Yamal was the runner-up to Ousmane Dembele for the Ballon d'Or last year.
- •Spain beat France 2-0 in the semi-finals to reach the final.
- •Messi expressed admiration for Yamal's potential ahead of their matchup.
- 9:00 PMYahoo Sports — Spain's Yamal aims to join elite club of teenage World Cup winners
"Lionel Messi will become the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final on Sunday as Spain's Lamine Yamal seeks to join an elite group of teenage winners.Yamal was the runner-up to Ousmane Dembele in last year's Ballon d'Or and now has the opportunity to join the select group of players to have won the World Cup as a teenager.
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