This Soccer Star Plays With ‘Joy’ and Will Replace the ‘Void’ Left by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded and left fans with so many storylines.
Some were about GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo having played in his last World Cup and the other GOAT, Lionel Messi, possibly having played his last. Other stories were about emerging superstars who captured the hearts of so many to become international superstars. One of those players is Lamine Yamal.
The 19-year-old was a part of the Spanish team that won it all on July 19, 2026. Yamal is a dynamic, high-usage winger for FC Barcelona and arguably the greatest teenage soccer player in the history of the sport. He also has an adorable little brother, Keyne, who had plenty of viral moments that brought smiles to soccer fans all around the world.
Former English soccer player Shaun Wright-Phillips, who played in the Premier League for Manchester City and Chelsea, gave his take on whether Yamal will be able to fill the void when Ronaldo and Messi are no longer playing.
“The way Lamine Yamal plays brings that joy and makes fans want to watch him because of the excitement,” Wright-Phillips said. “He will definitely replace that void being left by Messi and Ronaldo. It would have been different for him this year because everybody knows him now. Everyone is scared of him, so they double or triple up on him, making it harder for him to do his job.
“He still played well for me in the World Cup Final. He did all the other stuff, created chances and was a headache for the opposition. He kept the ball when he had to. So I still think he played quite well and of course has a huge future.”
