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What Lionel Messi Said to Lamine Yamal After Final

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Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi could be seen embracing after the 2026 World Cup final, in a moment that represented a passing of the torch.

The greatest footballer of all time was unable to drag his Argentina team across the line again, just as he had in the 2022 final. Meanwhile, Yamal, 19, was part of Spain’s dominant side that steamrolled every opponent they encountered.

He’s largely viewed as the heir to Messi’s throne, especially as a Barcelona superstar at such a young age. Messi’s brilliance at 39 years old, scoring eight goals and registering four assists, wasn’t enough to seal back-to-back World Cup titles.

Following the full-time whistle, Yamal headed straight over to the Argentina icon, who sat heartbroken on the turf at MetLife Stadium.

What Lionel Messi Said to Lamine Yamal After World Cup Final

Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Much of the attention was drawn to the post-match meltdown, which saw Nicolas Otamendi furiously confront Rodri, Leandro Paredes throw Gavi to the floor and an Argentine coach punch Dani Olmo.

However, cameras naturally drifted towards Messi, who more than likely bowed out of international football with a loss on the biggest stage. He looked like a broken man as he sat on the ground, avoiding all the post-match drama.

Yamal immediately made his way over to Messi, who he helped up off the ground before hugging. The pair shared words, which the Spanish forward has now revealed.

Per the Metro, Yamal said: “He’s the greatest player in history and someone I’ve always looked up to. After the match, I wanted to show him my respect.

“He told me to keep following my path and that the future belongs to our generation. Those words are worth as much as the gold medal hanging around my neck.

“If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d be here lifting the World Cup after playing against Lionel Messi, I would have thought they were crazy.”

Getting Messi’s seal of approval and recognition would have been music to Yamal’s ears. The teenage sensation has now won the European Championship and World Cup with Spain.

Messi’s Statement on ‘Immense Pain’ After Final Defeat

Argentina's Lionel Messi looks dejected after losing the World Cup final Lionel Messi looks dejected via REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Almost 24 hours after the disappointing defeat, Messi took to social media to express how hurt he felt after failing to add a fourth star to Argentina’s badge. “The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal. But I also hold onto all the good things,” his statement read.

He added: “The matches we turned around by giving it our all – moments that will remain in our memories forever – and the support of an entire country which, combined with this group’s hard work and effort, brought us back among the world’s elite once again.

“It is hard to fully appreciate our achievement right now, but this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every greeting and message. Once again, we managed to unite as a country and stand together, sharing the immense pride of being Argentine. I also want to congratulate Spain on winning the championship.”

Statistics are courtesy of FIFA. Correct as of 21-07-26.

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New Footage Shows Lisandro Martinez ‘Struck’ a Spain Player

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Ugly scenes marred the closing moments of the World Cup final, as tempers boiled over between Argentina and Spain players on the pitch once the full-time whistle blew.

Players and coaches from both camps got involved in an attempt to defuse everything, with a host of separate incidents taking place over the course of three minutes.

Several individual moments have already drawn scrutiny in the days since, with clips of the chaos spreading rapidly across social media and prompting FIFA to launch an investigation into Argentina’s conduct.

Now, a new angle of a specific incident has emerged online, and it appears to show one of the ugliest moments of the entire meltdown.

Lisandro Martinez’s Unceremonious Statement Causes Backlash

Lisandro Martinez after the World Cup final REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

In the aftermath, defender Lisandro Martinez posted a message on social media, leading fans to brand him and Argentina “so unlikeable,” before calling them the worst sort of losers in decades:

“With a heavy heart for not having been able to bring home the cup that we all deserved, but with pride bursting at the seams for this jersey, for my teammates, the coaching staff, the executives, the medical team, the cooks, the kit men, and every single person who was involved to make all of this work in the best possible way.”

He continued: “I want to congratulate Spain on their well-deserved title. We defended our colours far beyond the pitch and shared unforgettable moments with the National Team, alongside our families and with the unwavering support of all Argentinians.

“Remember that ‘the fall of the great is the joy of the mediocre’.”

“Thank you all so much. Let’s take care of our country. I love you, Argentina!”

Lisandro Martinez injury REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

The freshly surfaced clip appears to show Martinez himself getting physically involved, with footage suggesting the Manchester United defender ‘punched’ Spain midfielder Gavi in the face.

The moment came after Leandro Paredes threw the 20-year-old Barcelona man to the ground, which had already caused enough chaos in itself.

See the incident between Lisandro Martinez and Gavi below:

With the video gaining traction online, scrutiny on Argentina’s conduct after the final looks set to intensify further, adding yet another unwanted moment to an already chaotic post-match scene.

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10 English Clubs With the Most Fan Arrests in the 2025/26 Season

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Police in England and Wales are pushing for extra funding to help manage matchday disorder, and the case for it just got stronger.

According to the Home Office, arrestable incidents were logged at 1,644 fixtures in England and Wales during the 2025-26 season, the highest total recorded since the UK Football Policing Unit began tracking the figures in 2017-18.

Fees correct prior to summer 2026

All 10 found — excellent!

Now, a full breakdown of football fan arrests by club for the season has been released, and the numbers make for uncomfortable reading.

Some of the country’s biggest Premier League clubs feature prominently on the list, and the gap between several of them is narrow, painting a picture of an issue that isn’t confined to any one corner of the game. Here’s how every club in the top ten compares.

10. Tottenham Hotspur – 52 arrests

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium general view

Spurs round out the bottom of the list with 52 football-related arrests across the 2025/26 season. Not the number any club wants to have attached to their name, but being the best of a bad bunch in this situation isn’t something to shout about.

9. Liverpool – 52 arrests

Anfield

Liverpool are tied with Tottenham on 52 arrests, but edge higher due to the larger number of banning orders among their fans. For a club with one of the largest travelling fanbases in the country, it’s a figure that will raise concerns despite sitting at the lower end of this list.

8. Portsmouth – 55 arrests

Portsmouth Fans Action Images/Paul Childs

Portsmouth’s inclusion stands out as they are one of only two clubs outside the Premier League’s usual big-city clubs to feature prominently, with 55 arrests recorded over the season.

7. Leeds United – 59 arrests

Elland Road-1

Leeds United’s return to the top-flight has come with 59 football-related arrests, a reminder of the intensity that runs through the club’s fans regardless of division.

6. Everton – 62 arrests

Hill Dickinson Stadium Jason Cairnduff via Reuters

Everton sit on 10 more arrests than Liverpool with 62, meaning the two Merseyside clubs combine for 114 arrests when their respective stadiums sit less than two miles apart.

5. Millwall – 63 arrests

the den millwall

Millwall’s reputation precedes them at times, and 63 arrests this season keep that narrative alive, placing them fifth on the list. With bitter rivals West Ham now playing Championship football next season, this number could easily inflate for Millwall by this time next year, as well as see West Ham enter the list, who currently hold the most banning orders of any club in England and Wales (121).

4. Arsenal – 66 arrests

Premier League title shown with Arsenal ribbons of red and white

Titleholders Arsenal racked up 66 arrests, reflecting the scale of their fanbase and the number of high-profile fixtures they’ve been involved in across the last season, both in the Premier League and Champions League.

3. Manchester United – 67 arrests

Old Trafford

Manchester United sit third with 67 arrests, a figure that comes as little surprise given the size and reach of their support both home and away, with almost 18% of their fanbase coming from London.

2. Chelsea – 76 arrests

Chelsea flag

Chelsea take second spot, and with it the most in London with 76 arrests, some way clear of Man Utd, but still miles behind the club at the very top of this list.

1. Manchester City – 102 arrests

Etihad Stadium Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Manchester City top the table by some distance, with 102 football-related arrests recorded across the 2025-26 season, well over a third more than second-placed Chelsea. To make matters worse for City, the club also sit behind West Ham in second overall for the most banning orders racked up, with 86.

Rank

Club

Football-Related Fan Arrests (2025-26)

1

Manchester City

102

2

Chelsea

76

3

Manchester United

67

4

Arsenal

66

5

Millwall

63

6

Everton

62

7

Leeds United

59

8

Portsmouth

55

9

Liverpool

52

10

Tottenham Hotspur

52

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The Truth About Barcola to Liverpool + Argentina Reaction to World Cup Final

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Olivia Buzaglo and Ben Jacobs are live with the latest edition of Market Madness, bringing you breaking transfer news, expert insight and all the biggest talking points from across football.

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