World Cup Final: Yamal, Cubarsi Join Pele, Mbappe in Exclusive FIFA Record

Spain’s teenage stars, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, have joined an exclusive list of football legends after helping their country win the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The pair achieved the milestone on Sunday as Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift the World Cup trophy at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time to hand Spain their second FIFA World Cup title and end Argentina’s bid to retain the trophy.

According to football statistics platform OptaJoe, Yamal and Cubarsi became only the fourth and fifth teenagers in history to start a FIFA World Cup final and finish the tournament as champions.

The achievement places both players alongside some of football’s greatest names.

The first teenager to accomplish the feat was Brazilian legend Pele, who started and won the 1958 FIFA World Cup final at the age of 17 years and 249 days.

Italian defender Giuseppe Bergomi followed in 1982, winning the World Cup with Italy at 18 years and 201 days.

France captain Kylian Mbappe became the third player to reach the milestone when he helped Les Bleus win the 2018 FIFA World Cup at 19 years and 207 days.

Yamal and Cubarsi have now written their names into the tournament’s history books after starring in Spain’s successful campaign.

Both players have enjoyed remarkable rises in international football despite their young ages.

Yamal emerged as one of Spain’s standout performers throughout the competition, dazzling supporters with his pace, creativity and maturity on the wing.

Cubarsi also impressed in central defence, producing composed displays against some of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking players.

Their performances have strengthened expectations that they could become the foundation of Spain’s national team for years to come.

Spain’s triumph capped an impressive World Cup campaign in which they remained unbeaten while defeating several top-ranked nations on their way to the title.

The victory also marked another significant chapter in Spanish football history, coming 16 years after the country claimed its first FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

For Yamal and Cubarsi, the achievement represents not only a historic personal milestone but also confirmation of their status among the brightest young talents in world football, joining a select group of teenage World Cup champions led by Pele and Mbappe.