The stage is set. Spain are going to face Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.
While all the debate surrounds who will lift the trophy, the goalscorer markets offer another way to attack the game.
If you want a player primed to shatter the ice early, look no further than Spain’s teenage phenom Lamine Yamal.
Despite scoring one goal at the tournament thus far, the Barcelona winger is in contention to bag the opener in the showpiece.
Big Game Mentality
Some players disappear under the lights of a final, but Yamal has shown a knack for generating match-defining moments when the stakes are high.
Ever since his breakout at Euro 2024 where he scored once and registered four assists, the 19-year-old doesn’t wait for the game to settle.
He scored 24 goals for Barcelona last season and it appears a matter of time before he becomes a regular goalscorer for his nation.
Non-Stop Attack
Luis de la Fuente’s tactical setup rewards this fearlessness, letting Yamal isolate fullbacks from the first whistle.
A curled effort into the far corner in the opening 20 minutes is a script we have seen him write time and time again.
The teenager can score out of nothing, bamboozling defenders before cutting onto his lethal left foot and finding the net.
He won the individual battle against Lucas Digne in the semi-finals and will fancy his chances against an Argentina side that have conceded six goals in the knockout rounds.
Passing of the Torch
The match will be notable for the individual battle between Yamal and Lionel Messi. The prodigy comes up against the grand master in a World Cup final that could be defined as a true transference of leadership.
Messi has been gracing the world with his ability for two decades and with a 20-year age gap between them, the first goal and a match winning performance could catapult Yamal further into superstar status.