That tiny baby grew up, shattered the dreams of the man holding her, and made him cry.

That tiny baby grew up, shattered the dreams of the man holding her, and made him cry.

20.07.2026 01:20

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final to become champions. Lamine Yamal, who had a photo taken with Lionel Messi as a baby, lifted the trophy against the world-famous star. At the end of the match, Messi was seen unable to hold back his tears.

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 with a goal in extra time, becoming world champion for the second time in their history.

SPAIN WORLD CHAMPIONS

The breathtaking final ended 0-0 in regular time. The fate of the match, which captivated football fans with its physical intensity and high tempo, was decided in extra time. In the second half of extra time, Spain launched a fast attack that found the back of the net, breaking Argentina's resistance and winning the match 1-0 to take the trophy home.

TWO STARS FACE OFF

The final not only determined the winner of the cup but also set the stage for one of football history's most iconic stories. Young star Lamine Yamal, who drew attention with his extraordinary performance throughout the tournament, faced off against Lionel Messi in the most special match of his career.

YAMAL GREW UP, STOLE MESSI'S DREAMS

Years ago, in 2007, as part of a social responsibility project organized by UNICEF, a few-month-old baby Lamine Yamal had posed in the arms of the then young star Lionel Messi. That legendary UNICEF photo, taken in Barcelona's dressing room showing Messi washing little Yamal, shot to the top of the world's agenda once again with the final whistle. Of the duo whose paths crossed years earlier, Yamal this time defeated his legendary opponent on the green pitch and was the one to lift the World Cup. Thus, Messi's dreams of becoming a World Cup champion for the second time ended against Yamal.

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