The referee blows the final whistle. Spain have just won their second World Cup, 16 years after South Africa 2010, with a goal from Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. And there, amid the madness at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Lamine Yamal does something no one expected: he kneels down and prays. 🙏
A few meters away, the scene is completely different. Leandro Paredes and Eric García are involved in a tense confrontation that draws in more players from Argentina and Spain, a clash of nerves so typical after a final decided in extra time.
Yamal, just 19 years old, had already made history as the youngest player to appear in a World Cup and European Championship final. Minutes after his moment of faith, he went over to console Lionel Messi, who was crying after losing his second World Cup final. Two gestures, one same young man, on football’s biggest night 🇪🇸⚽