Lamine Yamal completes football at 19 as Argentina betray Messi

Lamine Yamal completes football at 19 as Argentina betray MessiImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lamine Yamal embraced Lionel Messi at the end of the World Cup finalByPhil McNultyChief football writer at New York New Jersey StadiumPublished4 minutes agoCommentsWhen brilliant Spain teenager Lamine Yamal embraced a tearful Lionel Messi at the end of the World Cup final, it looked and felt symbolic. A passing of the torch.Messi, at 39, gazed long and hard at Argentina's fans packed around the New York New Jersey Stadium as they sang his name after what may be the last time he graces the game's biggest stage.And, with the world watching, it was Lamine Yamal who offered the great Argentina icon consolation before they fell into each other's arms.Barcelona's number 10 embracing their most legendary number 10.A different image to the amazing photo of a 20-old Messi bathing a six-month-old Lamine Yamal in September 2007 as part of a charity calendar raffle that went viral once more in the build-up to this game.The baby boy is now a man, and Messi may be at the end of his World Cup journey.Lamine Yamal - two decades younger and still in the infancy of his career - has effectively completed international football by lifting the World Cup two years after he came to wider prominence by winning the Euros when Spain beat England.He, like Messi a product of Barcelona, came into the tournament troubled by a hamstring injury, but ended it as the youngest player - at 19 years and six days - to win both the World Cup and Euros.And one of the key storylines contained within this disappointing World Cup final was how Lamine Yamal's influence was assisted by the purist strategies of his Spain team-mates - while Messi was betrayed by Argentina's provocative approach.It yielded nothing, which was what it deserved.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lamine Yamal is the youngest player to win the World Cup and European Championship at 19 years and si...