Lamine Yamal and Spain have completed a remarkable FIFA World Cup journey, defeating three of football’s biggest stars—Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi—on their way to lifting the 2026 World Cup trophy.
Spain began their knockout-stage run with a 1–0 victory over Portugal, overcoming the side associated with legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The result sent Spain into the quarterfinals, where they continued their impressive campaign with a 2–1 win against Belgium.
The biggest challenges were still ahead. In the semifinals, Spain faced Kylian Mbappé and a powerful France team. However, La Roja delivered another outstanding performance, securing a 2–0 victory to book their place in the final.
The final brought an emotional generational showdown as Spain faced Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina. Spain eventually prevailed 1–0 after extra time, securing their second men’s World Cup title and ending Argentina’s hopes of retaining the trophy.
For Yamal, the tournament represented a major milestone in his rapidly developing career. The young Spanish star was part of a team that defeated some of the most celebrated names in modern football, creating a remarkable storyline for the 2026 tournament.
Spain’s path to glory has been defined by confidence, consistency and resilience, while Yamal has emerged as one of the leading faces of a new generation. The victory also adds another chapter to Spain’s football history and could mark the beginning of a new era dominated by young stars.
From Ronaldo to Mbappé and finally Messi, Spain’s World Cup triumph will be remembered as a historic journey through the final stages of football’s superstar era.
