{"id":5352,"date":"2026-07-19T04:29:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T04:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/19\/argentina-spain-and-their-stars-lionel-messi-and-lamine-yamal-meet-in-world-cup-final\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T04:29:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T04:29:50","slug":"argentina-spain-and-their-stars-lionel-messi-and-lamine-yamal-meet-in-world-cup-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=5352","title":{"rendered":"Argentina, Spain and their stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet in World Cup final"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"storytitle\">\n<h1>Argentina, Spain and their stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet in World Cup final<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORYTITLE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"story-meta\" class=\"story-meta has-byline\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one-inner\">\n<div class=\"dateblock\">\n    <time datetime=\"2026-07-19T00:00:00-04:00\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"date\">July 19, 2026<\/span><span class=\"time\">12:00 AM ET<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/time>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE-INNER\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-meta__two\">\n<div id=\"storybyline\" class=\"storybyline-wrap linkLocation\">\n<div class=\"bucketwrap byline\">\n<div class=\"byline-container--block\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--block byline--has-link\" aria-label=\"Byline\">\n<div class=\"byline__photo\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/348743421\/becky-sullivan\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2103x2103+0+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F11%2F980f3f364d858dd8ff0916912682%2Fbecky-sullivan.jpeg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Headshot of Becky Sullivan\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2103x2103+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F11%2F980f3f364d858dd8ff0916912682%2Fbecky-sullivan.jpeg\" data-format=\"jpeg\"><br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<p class=\"byline__name byline__name--block\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/348743421\/becky-sullivan\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n      Becky Sullivan<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP BYLINE\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__TWO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"STORY-META\" CLASS=\"STORY-META HAS-BYLINE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\" class=\"storytext storylocation linkLocation\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134472\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 2782;--source-height: 2031\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2782x2031+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff4%2Fee%2Fb969e752472c94d02ee5e2a1ae0e%2Fgettyimages-2286009902.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2782x2031+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff4%2Fee%2Fb969e752472c94d02ee5e2a1ae0e%2Fgettyimages-2286009902.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"This combination of photos shows Spain forward Lamine Yamal (L) and Argentina star Lionel Messi competing earlier during the World Cup. Spain and Argentina will meet in the 2026 World Cup final Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, N.J.\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                This combination of photos shows Spain forward Lamine Yamal (L) and Argentina star Lionel Messi competing earlier during the World Cup. Spain and Argentina will meet in the 2026 World Cup final Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, N.J.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Charly Triballeau, Roberto Schmid\/AFP via Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Charly Triballeau, Roberto Schmid\/AFP via Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>NEW YORK \u2014 The final day of a summer of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fifa.com\/en\/tournaments\/mens\/worldcup\/canadamexicousa2026\" target=\"_blank\">FIFA World Cup<\/a> fever in North America, and the last of 104 matches, has finally arrived, as the world&#8217;s top two ranked national teams \u2014 Spain and Argentina \u2014 will kick off at 3 p.m. Eastern time for the right to lift the sport&#8217;s most coveted trophy.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5899071-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImageg-s1-133556\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/the-picture-show\/2026\/07\/17\/g-s1-133556\/world-cup-watch-party-photos\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/the-picture-show\/2026\/07\/17\/g-s1-133556\/world-cup-watch-party-photos\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+500+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fca%2F6e%2F87d195df4e658c507b1b4f9acdc0%2F20260611-watchparty-pl-01.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+500+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fca%2F6e%2F87d195df4e658c507b1b4f9acdc0%2F20260611-watchparty-pl-01.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+500+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fca%2F6e%2F87d195df4e658c507b1b4f9acdc0%2F20260611-watchparty-pl-01.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Nehemiah, 6, screams for Mexico during halftime at Auditorium Shores during Austin FC's FIFA World Cup watch party for Mexico and South Africa on Thursday, June 11.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/pictureshow\/\">The Picture Show <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/the-picture-show\/2026\/07\/17\/g-s1-133556\/world-cup-watch-party-photos\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/the-picture-show\/2026\/07\/17\/g-s1-133556\/world-cup-watch-party-photos\"}'>Photos: When the World Cup came to town<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5899071-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>A crowd of 80,000 people is expected to pack into the stands of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey just outside of New York City, where the cheapest tickets were going for nearly $10,000 on secondary market sites.<\/p>\n<p>For days, wildfire smoke had swept over New York. Then a downpour on Saturday and a flash flood alert. But by Sunday morning, with a sunny forecast calling for clear skies and a high of 80 degrees at kickoff, all of that was in the rearview mirror.<\/p>\n<p>For Spain, a win would mark a meteoric rise for a young and thrilling squad and their 19-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal, who despite an injury to his quad earlier this spring, has flashed greatness throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Spain has beaten three of the world&#8217;s top-ten teams to reach the final \u2014 first a 1-0 win over No. 5 Portugal, then a 2-1 quarterfinal win over No. 9 Belgium, and most impressive, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/14\/nx-s1-5893692\/2026-world-cup-fifa-spain-france-semifinal\" target=\"_blank\">a 2-0 win<\/a> in the semifinal over No. 3 France, whose attack had looked unstoppable until then. Spain has conceded only one goal in their seven World Cup games so far.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, for Argentina, a win would cap a historic and dominant era that has included the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/12\/18\/1143933269\/world-cup-final-argentina-france-messi-mbappe\" target=\"_blank\">2022 World Cup<\/a> title, two Copa Am\u00e9rica trophies and the 2022 Finalissima \u2014 all while the team has been led by the global <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/22\/nx-s1-5866649\/2026-world-cup-fifa-lionel-messi-argentina-scoring-record\" target=\"_blank\">megastar Lionel Messi<\/a>. &#8220;They are an excellent opponent, an excellent national team that has had a spectacular run over the last eight or 10 years since this group came together,&#8221; said Spain&#8217;s coach Luis de la Fuente on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Argentina&#8217;s road to New York has been paved with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/11\/nx-s1-5888612\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-switzerland-quarterfinal\" target=\"_blank\">improbable wins<\/a>, one after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/07\/nx-s1-5884872\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-egypt-round-of-16\" target=\"_blank\">another<\/a>. In none of their four knockout games did Argentina hold the lead when the clock reached 90 minutes. Twice they have escaped with a stoppage time game-winner; twice they have escaped after going ahead in extra time.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134473\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 5727;--source-height: 3818\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5727x3818+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2Fb6%2F240a61ec400f947b9d0139ae2ad5%2Fgettyimages-2286564338.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5727x3818+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb5%2Fb6%2F240a61ec400f947b9d0139ae2ad5%2Fgettyimages-2286564338.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Lionel Messi of Argentina speaks on stage at a fan event in New York City on Friday before Sunday's FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Lionel Messi of Argentina speaks on stage at a fan event in New York City on Friday before Sunday&#8217;s FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Elsa\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Elsa\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At 39 years old, Messi&#8217;s performance in this World Cup has been nothing short of unbelievable: His eight goals and four assists \u2014 including assists on both crucial late-game goals in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/15\/nx-s1-5893895\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-england-semifinal\" target=\"_blank\">heart-stopping semifinal<\/a> against England \u2014 put him in second place behind only France&#8217;s Kylian Mbapp\u00e9. He scored twice in Saturday&#8217;s bronze medal loss to England and now has ten goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Messi is something else. He is an irreplaceable player, a player with extraordinary talent, and above all he is an example,&#8221; de la Fuente said. &#8220;His attitude and his behavior, at the age he is now and with the World Cup he is having, are truly spectacular.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Asked Friday whether the final would be Messi&#8217;s last time wearing the Argentina shirt, coach Lionel Scaloni smiled and shrugged. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t know what to tell you. I don&#8217;t know, because he never stops surprising us,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The comparisons between Messi, 39, and Yamal, who just turned 19 last week, are irresistible. Both were prodigies in the famed Barcelona academy La Masia who burst into stardom as teenagers in the club&#8217;s red and blue stripes. Yamal now wears No. 10 for Barcelona, the number Messi wore until he left the club in 2021.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5899071-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5897607\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/18\/nx-s1-5897607\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-spain-women-fans\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/18\/nx-s1-5897607\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-spain-women-fans\"}'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3667x3667+757+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2F07%2F181e09c244e4bbdad44ed8eade4e%2Fd-villasana-fifa-nails-10.JPG\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3667x3667+757+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2F07%2F181e09c244e4bbdad44ed8eade4e%2Fd-villasana-fifa-nails-10.JPG\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3667x3667+757+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2F07%2F181e09c244e4bbdad44ed8eade4e%2Fd-villasana-fifa-nails-10.JPG\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"CeeCee Barrett, left, and Vina Nails owner Vy Nguyen, right, showcase their FIFA World Cup-inspired art at her salon in Houston, Texas, on June 26, 2026.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a>         <\/p>\n<div class=\"bucketblock\">\n<h3 class=\"slug\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/g-s1-98388\/soccer-edition\">Soccer Edition <\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/18\/nx-s1-5897607\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-spain-women-fans\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"recirculation\",\"action\":\"story_recirculation_click\",\"clickType\":\"inset box\",\"clickUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/18\/nx-s1-5897607\/2026-world-cup-fifa-argentina-spain-women-fans\"}'>Reporter&#8217;s Notebook: Finding World Cup joy in speaking to women who love soccer<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5899071-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Sunday&#8217;s match is the first head-to-head competition between the two, who are 20 years apart in age. Famously \u2014 and improbably \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UNICEF\/status\/2078170378166313251\" target=\"_blank\">they first met when Yamal was a baby<\/a> as part of a UNICEF charity calendar photo shoot.<\/p>\n<p>Asked about the photo at a fan Q&amp;A event on Friday in New York, Messi called it &#8220;una locura&#8221; \u2014 a madness. &#8220;That&#8217;s life,&#8221; he said with a smile. &#8220;I took a photo when he was a baby, and now the two of us are facing each other in a World Cup final.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Yamal is a &#8220;tremendous&#8221; player, Messi added. &#8220;At just 19 years old, he is already one of the world&#8217;s leading players. He has his entire career ahead of him, and he has a great opportunity to achieve something historic [on Sunday].&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn&#8217;t happen this time,&#8221; he joked.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134474\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 5824;--source-height: 3883\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5824x3883+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Feb%2Fc4%2F121033394455a0015a4f47fed04a%2Fgettyimages-2286581737.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5824x3883+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Feb%2Fc4%2F121033394455a0015a4f47fed04a%2Fgettyimages-2286581737.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt='A drone show takes place displaying the message \"FIFA World Cup 2026 The Final\" with the graphic representing the host countries of Canada, the United States and Mexico, in front of the Lower Manhattan skyline on Friday in Jersey City, N.J.' loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                A drone show takes place displaying the message &#8220;FIFA World Cup 2026 The Final&#8221; with the graphic representing the host countries of Canada, the United States and Mexico, in front of the Lower Manhattan skyline on Friday in Jersey City, N.J.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At every stadium, the songs, cheers and tears of joy from thousands of Argentina fans, as their team has drawn closer and closer to hoisting a second consecutive trophy, has given Argentina&#8217;s players even more motivation to finish with a win, they say.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have reclaimed something that I think is very valuable: that people stand in front of the television in their Argentina shirt and give each other a hug, a Newell&#8217;s fan with a [Rosario] Central fan, and a Boca [Juniors] fan with a River [Plate] fan,&#8221; Scaloni said Friday, naming some of Argentina&#8217;s most famous domestic clubs and their biggest rivals.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We see it. We feel it. We keep it in mind,&#8221; said Scaloni. &#8220;How could it not move you?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/245994525\/fifa-world-cup\">FIFA World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/132056081\/fifa\">FIFA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/127559710\/world-cup\">World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/126924565\/argentina\">Argentina<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/126919529\/spain\">Spain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/190994412\/lionel-messi\">Lionel Messi<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/g-s1-134468\/lamine-yamal\">Lamine Yamal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"tag tag--story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/tags\/127802996\/soccer\">Soccer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"TAGS\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"share-tools share-tools--secondary\" aria-label=\"Share tools\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook\"><button class=\"fbStorynx-s1-5899071\" data-share-facebook='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5899071\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"facebook\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Facebook<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard\"><button class=\"storynx-s1-5899071\" data-share-flipboard='{\"storyId\": \"nx-s1-5899071\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"flipboard\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Flipboard<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--email\"><button class=\"share-tools__email-link\" data-story-id=\"nx-s1-5899071\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"email\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Email<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS-SECONDARY\" ARIA-LABEL=\"SHARE TOOLS\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA\" DATA-NEWSLETTER=\"{&amp;QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;NEWS&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;TITLE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;UP FIRST&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;FREQUENCY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;EVERY DAY&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;THE STORIES YOU NEED TO START YOUR DAY, HAND-PICKED FOR YOU EVERY WEEKDAY. PLUS, THE BEST OF NPR EVERY SUNDAY.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STICKYDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR THE NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES AND UNIQUE STORIES FROM THE NPR NETWORK.&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;CONTENTIMAGE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/NPR.BRIGHTSPOTCDN.COM\/E1\/16\/E7434747460F8691603795B6FF1C\/SCREEN-SHOT-2025-08-20-AT-1-47-26-PM.PNG&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;STATICMARKUPDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BUCKETS\/TOPICS\/HEADER1001.HTML&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGDIR&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;\/BRANDING\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;BRANDINGLINK&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;HTTPS:\/\/WWW.NPR.ORG\/SECTIONS\/NEWS\/&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;RECAPTCHASITEKEY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;6LCDN9IZAAAAAOHT985BJJBZJKBJKSXDXK3GEKST&amp;QUOT;}\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\" class=\"callout-end-of-story-mount-piano-wrap\">\n<!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" CLASS=\"CALLOUT-END-OF-STORY-MOUNT-PIANO-WRAP\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES RECOMMENDED-STORIES-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"END-OF-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT\" CLASS=\"RECOMMENDED-STORIES\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Argentina, Spain and their stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet in World Cup final July 19, 202612:00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5352\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}