Lionel Messi stood watching as Spain celebrated the World Cup, while 19-year-old Lamine Yamal lifted the trophy that had defined the Argentine captain's career.
The image was striking: Messi, likely leaving the tournament for the final time, and Yamal, stepping into football's biggest stage as a champion. Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina on Sunday delivered far more than a second world title for La Roja. Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute, but the lasting image was the contrast between between eras — one closing, another beginning.
