Lamine Yamal: Teen makes history in Euro and World Cup finals before even kicking a ball in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The 19-year-old Barcelona winger became the first footballer ever to play in both a UEFA European Championship final and a World Cup final as a teenager, starting for Spain against Argentina at MetLife Stadium.
Lamine Yamal already helped Spain win Euro 2024, and by appearing in this World Cup showpiece, he set an unmatched record. His rise has been remarkable, and he remains a key player for La Roja at just 19. During Spain’s campaign, Lamine Yamal played a crucial role in the 2-0 semifinal win over France, winning a penalty after pressuring Lucas Digne. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the spot, and Pedro Porro added a second after fine work from Dani Olmo. Spain’s defense kept a sixth clean sheet in seven matches, frustrating Kylian Mbappe.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente kept faith with the same starting eleven from the semifinal. Unai Simon started in goal, with a back four of Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Cucurella. Rodri captained the midfield alongside Fabian Ruiz and Olmo, while Lamine Yamal joined Oyarzabal and Bryan Zaragoza in attack. They faced Lionel Messi’s defending champions Argentina, who reached the final after a dramatic 2-1 win over England.
While much attention focused on Messi’s quest for a second straight World Cup title, Lamine Yamal quietly wrote his own chapter in football history. His achievement highlights an extraordinary career that is still in its early stages.