World Cup 2026 final / Spain vs Argentina: Lionel Scaloni wants to lock up Lamine Yamal!

19.07.26 AET World Cup

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Impressed by the Spanish phenomenon, Lionel Scaloni heaped praise on Lamine Yamal while hoping he'll have an off day in the final.

Just hours before the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, Lionel Scaloni made no secret of his admiration for Lamine Yamal. The Albiceleste coach sees the 19-year-old winger as one of La Roja's main threats.

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Asked how to neutralize him, Scaloni opted for humor:

"It would be great if we could both be locked in a room! What can we do?"

He then paid tribute to the Barcelona star's exceptional qualities:

"He plays really well, really, really well. This boy is a true football treasure."

The Argentine manager knows, however, that every spark from Yamal could tip the balance in the World Cup title fight.

"Let's just hope it doesn't happen on Sunday," he added,

before describing Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi as "two players who are very hard to mark". The battle of the two left-footed maestros is on.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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