Lamine Yamal has revealed the touching words Lionel Messi shared with him during their embrace after Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final. The 19-year-old Spanish star, who is now a European and World champion, said Messi told him to 'keep following my path' and that 'the future belongs to our generation.'
World Cup final: Spain beats Argentina in extra time
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in New Jersey on Sunday, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal in the 106th minute. The match was one-sided, as Argentina failed to register a single shot on goal in 90 minutes and managed none on target in the entire 120 minutes. Despite Spain's dominance, they struggled to break down the stubborn defending champions until Torres finally found the net.
Yamal's emotional exchange with Messi
After the final whistle, ugly scenes erupted as some Argentina players and staff clashed with Spanish stars, prompting FIFA to launch an investigation. However, Messi stayed out of the fracas and instead embraced Yamal, a moment widely seen as passing the torch. Yamal told Spanish publication Marca: 'He's the greatest player in history and someone I've always looked up to. After the match, I wanted to show him my respect. He told me to keep following my path and that the future belongs to our generation. Those words are worth as much as the gold medal hanging around my neck.'
Messi's message after the defeat
On Monday, Messi posted a message on Instagram expressing the pain of losing what is likely his last World Cup match. 'The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal,' he wrote. 'But I also hold onto all the good things… The matches we turned around by giving it our all—moments that will remain in our memories forever—and the support of an entire country which, combined with this group's hard work and effort, brought us back among the world's elite once again. It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message. Once again, we managed to unite as a country and stand together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.'
Yamal's rapid rise
Yamal, already a European champion, added: 'If someone had told me a few years ago that I'd be here lifting the World Cup after playing against Lionel Messi, I would have thought they were crazy.' The teenager's performance throughout the tournament has drawn widespread acclaim, cementing his status as one of football's brightest talents.
