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Lamine Yamal breaks his silence on his emotional encounter with Messi after the 2026 World Cup final
Cameras captured an embrace that quickly traveled around the world. Hours after winning the title with Spain, Lamine Yamal revealed the words he exchanged with Lionel Messi in one of the final’s most symbolic moments.
The embrace that traveled around the world
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final produced an image that went beyond the result between Spain and Argentina.
After the final whistle, Lamine Yamal briefly stepped away from Spain’s celebrations and went directly to find Lionel Messi, who remained on the pitch trying to process the defeat.
The two players shook hands and shared an emotional embrace that quickly began circulating on social media.
What did Lamine Yamal say to Lionel Messi?
Hours after the match, the young Spanish forward explained that he approached the Argentina captain to show his respect and support him during one of the most painful moments of his career.
“I only told him, ‘I’m sorry,’” Yamal revealed as he recalled the brief exchange with the player he has repeatedly described as his idol and role model.
The Spain forward also said that Messi congratulated him on winning the title and on his performances throughout the tournament, turning the conversation into a display of respect between two players at completely different stages of their careers.
