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The 2026 World Cup final was hyped as a clash between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, a storyline that captivated fans across the globe.

Spain’s 1-0 triumph over Argentina brought heartbreak for the 39-year-old Messi in New Jersey, as Argentina, reduced to ten men, struggled to keep possession throughout the match.

Enzo Fernandez was dismissed in stoppage time for a second yellow card, giving Spain full control in extra time.

The match was portrayed as a duel between Messi and Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, and here we evaluate how the two icons performed on football’s biggest stage.

The Argentina-Spain final carried a remarkable backstory — Messi and Yamal had actually crossed paths back in 2007, when Yamal’s parents entered him in a newspaper contest, leading to a UNICEF charity photoshoot where a 20-year-old Messi was pictured bathing baby Yamal.

At the MetLife Stadium, Yamal was determined to outshine his hero and lead Spain to their second World Cup title.

The 19-year-old right winger created the first major opportunity of the game, combining neatly with Dani Olmo before his shot at the near post was blocked by Argentina’s goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

Moments later, Yamal broke through again but narrowly failed to connect with the final pass.

Argentina’s defenders were physical in their approach towards the youngster, but managed to restrict his influence early on.

His second-half free-kick that struck the wall was disappointing, yet as Spain began to dominate towards the end of regulation time, Yamal’s presence grew stronger.

One dazzling moment saw him glide past Nicolas Tagliafico, and soon after, his quick footwork allowed him to skip between Julian Alvarez and Alexis Mac Allister.

Although Yamal did not score the decisive goal, he clearly outperformed Messi in New Jersey, collapsing to his knees in emotion when the final whistle blew.

Messi, the reigning world champion and one of the standout figures of this tournament, took the opening kick of the match.

However, that turned out to be his only involvement in the first 15 minutes.

Argentina struggled to impose themselves for large portions of the game, and the same could be said of Messi, who was largely anonymous.

His best chance came very early, when he broke through on goal but failed to reach the ball in time to round Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon, who raced out to clear the danger.

It was simply not Messi’s night in the 2026 World Cup final.

Rodri controlled the midfield for much of the match, but Messi did manage one signature moment when he drove past the Manchester City star, forcing a tactical foul from the Spaniard.

In stoppage time of the first half of extra time, Messi produced a moment of magic — a 360-degree turn with the ball glued to his foot followed by a clever pass wide — a fleeting reminder of his brilliance.

Yet such moments were rare. Spain neutralised both Argentina and their legendary No.10, leaving the Golden Boot to be claimed by Kylian Mbappe.