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The student surpassed his teacher
Spain’s Lamine Yamal was able to lead his country to the 2026 World Cup after La Roja beat Argentina 1-0 in the final. The ‘Golden Boy’ emerged victorious in a highly anticipated showdown against his role model and legend of the game, Lionel Messi, on a night that saw Spain dominate at both team and individual levels.
Although Yamal didn’t score or assist in the only goal of the match, he was one of the keys to the game for head coach Luis de la Fuente’s team, and he constantly troubled Argentina’s defenses in one-on-ones with his constant movement and speed, confirming that he was one of the main reasons Spain won the title.
Before the final kicked off, comparisons between Messi and Yamal were at the fore, especially as the pair left the La Masia academy and the Spanish star is seen as the Barcelona legend’s most prominent heir. After the final whistle, the language of numbers gave the young Spaniard an advantage.
Read also… Where’s Messi… Spain beat Argentina after 45 minutes of dominance
According to soccer statistics website Sova Score, Lamine Yamal received a rating of 7.3 out of 10, just ahead of Lionel Messi, who scored 7.2 out of 10, a rating that reflects each player’s impact on the game.
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Yamal was also excellent in attack, scoring four goals in the match compared to just one for Messi, confirming his constant presence in the final third and his repeated attempts to threaten Argentina’s goal.
There was also a difference in the build-up of the game as Yamal completed 51 passes, 44 of them at 86%, while Messi was content with just 35 passes, of which 27 reached his teammates for a 77% success rate, given the Tango captain’s tight control from the Spanish players.
The dominance didn’t end there as Yamal managed 5 successful dribbles compared to Messi’s just 3, ending the final with a clear numerical advantage over the Argentine legend and sending a strong message that a new generation has begun to impose itself at the top of world football.
