When Spain and France walk onto the pitch for their FIFA World Cup semi-final, it won't just be about a spot in the final — it’s the moment the next generation officially takes over the global stage. From Lamine Yamal to Jude Bellingham, pictured, the future has become the present. Photo: AFP
When Spain and France walk onto the pitch for their FIFA World Cup semi-final, the prize will be a place in the biggest match in world football. But beneath the pursuit of silverware lies a far bigger story.
This is the moment the World Cup officially embraces its next generation.
For almost two decades, international football revolved around the same cast of superstars. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Luka Modrić and Kevin De Bruyne became the faces of the sport, defining an era through trophies, individual brilliance and unforgettable moments on the world’s biggest stage.
Every major tournament seemed to ask the same question: could one of football’s established icons add another chapter to an already remarkable legacy?
