Spain just won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final. And the biggest story coming out of the tournament isn’t a veteran lifting the trophy at sunset. It’s a 19-year-old from Barcelona who played every single match and is now the betting favorite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Lamine Yamal, born July 13, 2007, has become the first teenager in history to win both the European Championship and the World Cup.
The on-pitch case
Yamal’s World Cup numbers: one goal, zero assists, eight matches played, seven starts, 615 minutes of total pitch time.
During the 2025/26 La Liga season, the Barcelona winger scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists in just 28 appearances. Barcelona secured the league title on the back of those performances, giving Yamal a domestic trophy to sit alongside his World Cup winner’s medal.
