Viral video: Lamine Yamal comforts Lionel Messi after final; social media reacts, ‘Class from both sides’
Lamine Yamal has achieved a remarkable double, winning both Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup while Argentina faced a frustrating exit. Yamal's viral moment of comforting Messi has resonated deeply with fans.
A video of Lamine Yamal comforting Lionel Messi after the final has gone viral. According to the poster, the clip is “easily the most wholesome moment you’ll see today”. The moment has garnered 2.5 million views in 4 hours on X (formerly Twitter).
An emotional hug closed a truly-historic World Cup final in New York. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winner, scoring in minute 106.
That moment between Yamal and Messi carried deep symbolic weight for both nations. It reminded fans of a famous 2007 photo of them together.
Quick answers to key questions
Lamine Yamal was seen comforting Lionel Messi after Argentina's defeat in the World Cup final, creating an emotional moment that resonated with fans across social media.
Yamal's comforting gesture was seen as a poignant end to an era, symbolizing the passing of the torch from Messi to the younger generation of footballers.
Lionel Messi was visibly emotional and broke down in tears as he watched his team receive their runners-up medals, highlighting the disappointment of missing out on another World Cup title.
Given Messi's age and the emotional weight of the final, there is speculation that this may be his last World Cup, raising questions about his future participation in international tournaments.
The moment highlighted the contrast between Yamal's rising stardom as one of the youngest World Cup winners and Messi's potential departure from international football, marking a significant transition in football history.
Then, 20-year-old Messi held a 5-month-old Yamal. Now, Messi became the oldest outfield World Cup finalist ever. Yamal, meanwhile, became one of the youngest players ever to play a World Cup final.
“From Messi bathing him in a tub as a baby to Yamal comforting Messi after a World Cup final... you genuinely cannot write a more poetic script than this,” wrote one social media user.
“This has to be a perfect ending,” wrote another user.
Another user posted, “I'm so sad to watch Messi crying... But, at the same time, I'm really happy for Lamine Yamal and the rest of Barcelona players in the Spanish national team.”
“The whole world was rooting so hard for Argentina to win and giving them all the love and special attention... but it just wasn't meant to be. Still, seeing young Lamine Yamal comfort Messi like that after everything… pure wholesome gold and class from both sides,” came from another.
“I think this is everything to me as a fan of both. Messi deserves all the love right now,” posted another fan.
One user pointed out, “Power has changed hands.....the end of an era, and the beginning of a new era. We experienced all that on one stage, in one game... History.”
One fan shared a different perspective: “The most wholesome moment is not even about Yamal…. It’s Messi getting up to acknowledge him. He was sitting when one of Spain's keepers went to console him, but stood up for Yamal.”
Contrasting pictures after World Cup final
With this win, Lamine Yamal completed a remarkable personal double. He's won both Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. Remarkably, he maintains a perfect record in major tournaments.
Argentina, though, endured a genuinely-bitter, frustrating exit. They managed zero shots on target throughout. Enzo Fernandez was sent off during stoppage time. Then, after the match, Parades was shown a red card as well.
About the Author
Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.
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