Yankees' Jazz Chisholm takes surprising MLB lead with heroic home run originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New York Yankees badly needed someone to come through.Jazz Chisholm Jr. answered the call.The Yanks had already lost once on Sunday, dropping game one of their doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers as Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game for the back-to-back World Series champs.Then on Sunday Night Baseball, New York's 1-0 lead had been taken away by a Tommy Edman game-tying home run.That's when Chisholm came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning.And that's when Chisholm showed that, amid a rough season for him, his clutch gene hasn't been the problem.Jazz's solo homer stood up as the final run in a 2-1 victory, and it also pushed him into a tie for an MLB lead.He now is tied for the most homers in the eighth inning or later to win a game this season. This was his third, matching Gavin Sheets of the Padres.The Yankees haven't had a player with more than three in a season since 1987:Jazz Chisholm Jr. has 3 game-winning home runs in the 8th inning or later this season.That's tied with Gavin Sheets for the most in MLB.The last Yankee to have more in a season was Mike Pagliarulo (4) in 1987. New York Yankees Stats (@nyyankeesstats) July 20, 2026This hasn't been a perfect season for Chisholm by any means. He entered the year talking about wanting to go 50-50, and then it took a really long time for his power to show up.Now, though, he's coming through when the Yanks need someone else to deliver with Aaron Judge still out.A Sunday night win like that can boost the confidence in a major way, and it was Chisholm who provided the special moment when the Yankees very much needed it.

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NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY (Nashville, Tenn.) Persistent and heavy rain showers forced INDYCAR to postpone its race in Nashville from Sunday to Monday afternoon. The 300-lap race, scheduled to begin shortly after Sunday's World Cup Final on FOX, was put into a lightning delay and then rains came around 7 p.m. ET. The track was nearly dry around 8:30 p.m. when heavy rains returned and series officials opted to postpone the race to Monday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. The race is expected to be brutal for the drivers and teams as FOX Weather predicts the temperature to be 90 degrees with it feeling like 102 degrees. With that forecast, INDYCAR officials announced late Sunday night that the race distance would be reduced to 225 laps. Kyle Kirkwood is on the pole for the race, which at 399.5 miles, is reguarily the second-longest on the INDYCAR calendar, behind only the Indianapolis 500. "It's going to be hot, it's going to be physical not only for me as a driver, but everyone on pit lane for two-plus hours," Kirkwood said Saturday after winning the pole about the race in general. Races postponed in INDYCAR are relatively rare because they have rain tires for the races on road and street courses that typically allow them to run unless there is a deluge. The last INDYCAR race to be postponed because of rain was the 2018 race at Barber (Ala.) Motorsports Park. Running the race Monday at Nashville wont be too much of a burden on the teams. They have the next two weekends off and then they finish the year with six races over five weekends. Maybe the only driver happy Sunday was Alex Palou, not because he wanted to race Monday but because the driver who grew up near Barcelona got to watch Spain win the World Cup. "Just incredible just to be able to win the World Cup," Palou said on the FOX telecast during the rain delay.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The images were striking:Lionel Messi, tears streaking down his cheeksafter surely the last of his six World Cups, joining his Argentine teammates at one end of the field, comforted in their abject sadness by diehard supporters continuing to chant behind the goal.Meantime, in the middle of MetLife Stadiums worn pitch, beaming Spanish players took turns receiving championship medals before gathering on stage to await captain Rodri, the Golden Ball recipient, for the trophy celebration.Spain was clearly the better team Sunday, but it took Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute to prevail against a wounded defending champion that played with courage but without much hope of winning.The 1-0 triumph was grueling for both players and spectators. It took 120 minutes for the finest team over these 39 wondrous days in 16 venues across North America to reap the rewards.This is a generation thats making history, Rodri said, but also in the way we did it.Lamine Yamal lifts the World Cup trophy after Spain capped a dominant tournament with the sports biggest prize.Carl Recine via Getty ImagesHowd they do it? By conceding one measly goal over 750 minutes in eight matches, controlling the ball as if no one else was on the field and reducing an Argentine bulldozer, driven by Messi, into a manual lawnmower.The only way Spain was going to lose, especially after Argentina was reduced to 10 men late in regular time, is if it were dragged into a shootout the way Argentinas victory over France four years ago in Qatar was decided.La Roja avoided that by scoring in the first minute of the second half of extra time, then surviving two late scares.Deservedly, a second world championship belonged to Spain. And it came in eerily similar fashion as the 2010 title in South Africa, when Andrs Iniesta scored in extra time to defeat 10-man Netherlands, 1-0. (Iniesta attended Sundays match with his family.)Torres, one of eight FC Barcelona players on Spains roster, became the second substitute to score a winning goal in a World Cup final. Germanys Mario Gtze, in 2014, was the first; he too did it against Argentina.I just saw the ball coming to me and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people, the 26-year-old midfielder said.FERRAN TORRES PUTS SPAIN AHEAD IN EXTRAS LA ROJA IS 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM BECOMING WORLD CUP CHAMPS AGAIN (via @FOXSports ) pic.twitter.com/l758VPIQek Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 19, 2026It was the breakthrough the capacity crowd and billions watching around the planet was waiting for, pleading for, begging for, praying for. No one wanted penalty kicks to decide the championship.To that point, though, Spains superiority had not translated into a lead.If there was a team that could manage to go all the way with the match still undecided, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said, it was us.Indeed, Argentina had persevered in knockout match after knockout match, outlasting Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and coming from behind late to oust Egypt and England.But those matches werent against an opponent as disciplined as Spain, which showed its quality throughout the match. The issue, though, was its failure to shoot with greater imagination and precision. Argentinas Emi Martnez set a record for a World Cup final with 11 saves, though only a few were difficult.Entering extra time, coach Luis de la Fuente addressed his players.I just said, Look, we are doing a great job. The match is controlled, but this is a final, and we are up against Argentina. If we are not careful, we might concede a goal. We kept our focus until the last minute.Messi and Argentina did not produce a shot on goal a remarkable statistic given an attacking firepower that had recorded 19 goals in seven matches and featured the little wizard, who, at 39, continues to defy his age.The victory swelled Spains unbeaten streak to 38 and capped an extraordinary run that included the 2023 Nations League and 2024 European Championship titles, as well as the 2025 Nations League second-place trophy, decided in a shootout. Spains under-23 squad won the 2024 Olympic gold medal.Spain can now claim to be the best not only on the mens side, but the womens as well after they captured their first crown at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.We have grown together, de la Fuente said. Weve reached this stage thanks to [the players] talents, to their attitude, to their commitment, to their values and to their huge talent. This team has a long way to go, so we are already thinking about what is coming next.The future is bright, indeed. Spain started two teenagers, the acclaimed winger Lamine Yamal and center back Pau Cubars, who was voted the best young player in the tournament.Unai Simon, 29, won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper, though he did not have a whole lot to do throughout the competition. Rodri, the 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder who sets the tone, organizes the defense and eloquently runs the attack, was the deserving winner of the Golden Ball as the World Cups MVP.As for Argentina, there were tears but immense pride about returning to the final.We feel extremely grateful to all our fans, all those people who transmitted us that energy we were lacking, Scaloni said. In the end, [Spain] deserved the victory. That's reality. We need to accept it. But we were close.

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Six weeks ago, sportsbooks across the U.S. harbored high hopes of strong betting engagement on World Cup odds. And as the tournament ended Sunday, with Spain beating Argentina 1-0 in overtime in the final, those hopes were greatly exceeded. Neil Walsh, Hard Rock Bets Senior Vice President-Sportsbook, certainly spoke for many operators. "This World Cup will go down as the biggest betting event in American history. We're talking the equivalent of 10 Super Bowls," Walsh said. "A sport we were once told Americans would not embrace turned into one for the history books. "The whole country wanted in." Oddsmakers from across the nation chime in on how the books and the bettors did on Spain vs. Argentina odds and World Cup wagering as a whole. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Result Punishes the Public Several bookmakers weighed in pre-match on Sunday, noting that underdog Argentina was taking the bulk of action in both of the key markets. Lionel Messi & Co. were popular with the public betting masses on the three-way moneyline to win the match in 90 minutes plus injury time and Argentina was the popular play in the To Lift The Trophy market, which includes overtime and, if necessary, a penalty-kick shootout. So bettors first got beat up by the 0-0 regulation draw. That meant the books scooped up all the Spain and Argentina money in the three-way market. Then Spain went up 1-0 on Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute, and made it hold up for the rest of overtime. That squelched all the Argentina To Lift The Trophy bets. "That was about our best-case scenario, when factoring in the game result, props, futures, etc.," said John Murray, vice president of The SuperBook. "It was a very good finish to the tournament for us." On Friday, Caesars Sports head of soccer trading Mark Bickerdike said overtime was absolutely the books rooting interest. "Lets see 120 minutes on that clock." Further, Caesars wanted Spain. So Bickerdike got his wish on both counts. "A 0-0 draw through regulation time meant it was a good day for the book," Bickerdike said postgame. "Bettorsfavored Argentina in both the [three-way] betting and To Lift The Trophy markets, pre-match and in-play. "There were also plenty of tickets written on Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal to score, resulting in positive outcomes across our straight-bet markets and same-game parlay product." Records Tumble Again With each big match all the USA contests, England vs. Mexico in the Round of 16, and the riveting quarterfinals and semifinals Caesars Sports saw records made and then broken for tickets and money wagered. Then the Spain-Argentina championship match outdid all the previous marks set since June 11 in this 48-team tournament. "The World Cup final delivered the biggest soccer betting event in Caesars Sportsbook history," Bickerdike said. "Interest was off the charts before kickoff, with pre-match wagering already surpassing our previous tournament record. "By the final whistle, the match had set new Caesars records for total handle, total wagers and unique bettors." In fact, the total handle the overall amount of money wagered was a record by a mile, eclipsing the dramatic England-Mexico match. "Handle finished nearly 65% higher than our previous record game, underscoring the extraordinary interest in soccer's biggest match and the incredible momentum we saw throughout the tournament," Bickerdike said. DraftKings Director of Sportsbook Operations Johnny Avello noted the match was a huge cap to a massively well-bet tournament overall. And though Avello didnt get specific, it sounds as if DraftKings did well. "The tournament is over, but we havent come down from our month-long high on World Cup soccer," Avello said. "The biggest event of the year had its peaks and valleys. But overall, wow!" Fantastic Futures If you had a championship futures bet on Spain, then step up and claim your prize. Thankfully, I did, at +450 pre-tournament. Spain certainly garnered a fair amount of bets, but for most books, Argentina was the bigger liability to win it all, as the bandwagon got larger and larger with all the stunning late-match heroics en route to the final. Alas, Messi & Co. couldnt nail down a second straight World Cup championship. So the bookmakers won in the futures market, as well. "The futures were good. A great end to a very profitable World Cup," Circa Sports director of operations Jeff Benson said. "It was a nice bonus for what otherwise would be a slow summer." Added Bickerdike: "Spain lifting the trophy was also a favorable result for us in the futures markets, as interest in them slowed during the tournament. Particularly after their early draw against Cape Verde. "That said, there will be plenty of happybettorswho backed Spain before the tournament, as Spain was our second-most-wagered team heading into the competition." I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie Major matches bring major wagers, and the World Cup finale didnt disappoint. Among the largest plays was one reportedly made by Drake: a whopping $1.5 million on Argentina. Its a good thing Drake is among those rare few who can lose that kind of money and not even notice. Hopefully the same holds true for a DraftKings Sportsbook customer who also went in heavy on Messi & Co. Back on June 17, just a week into the tournament, the bettor put $250,000 on Argentina +850 to win the World Cup. If Argentina went the distance, then the bettor wouldve won $2.125 million. Alas, the wager became a six-figure donation to the house. On prediction markets, there were a couple of risk-a-lot-to-make-a-little trades. Over the past few days, you might recall seeing that someone posted on X five years ago, saying Argentina beat Spain 3-2 in the 2026 World Cup final. That led to a slew of wagers on that actually happening Sunday. A Polymarket customer went the other way, with a $1.55 million trade that the final score would not be Argentina 3, Spain 2. At a price of 97% which equates to odds of -3233 that trade profited $44,772, for a total payout of $1,597,219. Also at Polymarket, a customer put $318,255 on Messi to not score two or more goals vs. Spain. Obviously, the Argentine superstar was shut out, and the trader netted $29,337 profit (total payout $347,592). Other notable wagers: Parlay Partay Small bets that win big are even more likable than big bets. Theyre certainly more relatable to us average Joes and Janes. A FanDuel Sportsbook customer notched a nice win and perhaps couldve won a lot more, but refused to look a gift horse in the mouth. Way back on Feb. 9, the bettor put together a six-leg parlay, combining NBA and NHL futures with a World Cup future. The goal: To turn a measly $2.01 into $8,880.55. Odds of all six teams hitting were a humongous +441718, or just beyond 4417/1. By the time the World Cup began, Spain was all that remained to cash that ticket. But on Saturday, the bettor opted to take a cashout offer from FanDuel, for $4,434,27. Thats some insane ROI on a two-dollar bet. Finally, file this under "Timing Is Everything." Prior to Saturdays England vs. France third-place match, a Caesars customer put five bucks on the correct final score being England 5, France 3. The odds on that were a hefty +42500, or 425/1, for a potential profit of $2,125. No one in their right mind expected eight goals, never mind the 10 goals ultimately scored in Englands 6-4 victory. However, in the 87th minute, Bukayo Saka completed his hat trick by converting a penalty kick to put England up 5-3. Presciently, the bettor then opted to take Caesars cashout offer of $1,206. Smart move, because in the sixth minute of second-half injury time, Ousmane Dembl scored for France to make it 5-4, which wouldve killed that bet. Two minutes later, Jude Bellingham knocked it in for England to account for the 6-4 final. Its all in the timing.

After 104 matches across 16 cities in three countries, Spain reigns supreme in the 2026 World Cup.La Roja won the tournament by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. This is their first title since 2010.Lionel Messi and Argentina were neutralized and did not have a shot on goal in the entire match, which went into extra time.After both teams won their groups and then clawed their way through the knockout rounds, a charity photo from 2007 of ayoung Messi giving a baby Lamine Yamal a bathwent viral as a wink of destiny.Here are the winners and losers of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina:WinnersSpainIf you would have told football fans that Spain was going to win the World Cup after their scoreless opening draw with newcomer Cape Verde, they would have laughed. But La Roja gutted out the tournament as one of the most well-rounded sides playing. Besides winning their second men's World Cup, which is their first since 2010, La Roja nearly ran the table with the player awards, too. AND they are the first country to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles at the same ... darn ... time.Emiliano MartinezThe Argentina goalkeeper had his work cut out for him as Spain dominated in possession. He broke the World Cup final record with 11 saves in the match, including diving to swat away Lamine Yamal's free kick in second half stoppage time. Even though Argentina lost, Martinez can hold his head high.Cape VerdeCape Verde is truly the people's champion of the 2026 World Cup. The African nation made its debut in the tournament this summer and rattled Spain in the opening match. They then had Argentina's back against the ropes in the round of 32. Knowing that they gave tough fights to the eventual runner-up and champion, the Blue Sharks have to feel good.UNICEFThat photo of a young Lionel Messi bathing a baby Lamine Yamal was absolutely EVERYWHERE leading up to the World Cup final. It is actually from a charity photo shoot that UNICEF put together back in 2007. The non-profit was already somewhat of a household name, but this embeds them deep into sports history in a way that no publicist could ever plan.LosersArgentinaArgentina's late surge did not come against a Spain team that controlled the entire World Cup final. And, after a tournament riddled with controversy, the side didn't even show a glimpse of greatness in the match. Instead, their highlight reel will feature Enzo Fernndez's second yellow card in the second half, which equaled a red card. He was ejected and Argentina was forced to continue with 10 players. They finished the fixture with absolutely ZERO shots on goal, far from a performance that they will want to remember.Donald TrumpPresident Donald Trump was in attendance at the World Cup final along with members of his family and other dignitaries. He has attempted to position himself as an influential decision-maker in the tournament, including taking credit for having Folarin Balogun's red card rescinded. The president was booed when he came on the pitch to award the medals and trophy to Spain and then made a fool of himself by sticking around too long.Chris Martin, FIFA, whoever's responsible for World Cup halftime showWe will always love "Yellow," but the Coldplay frontman let us down with the extremely chaotic World Cup halftime show, which he was supposedly in charge of curating. FIFA was clearly gunning for the Super Bowl with the performance, the first of its kind at the global tournament. But where the NFL is thoughtful in getting a single, or sometimes a few, popular stars to deliver an artful performance, World Cup organizers provided a disjointed, throbbing mish mash that was simply hard to watch.The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spain and UNICEF stole the show: Winners, losers of World Cup final

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Lamine Yamal's little brother, Keyne, emerged as a winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup well before Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday's final. Now, he gets to celebrate like a champion. Keyne, 3, joined his brother and the rest of the Spanish team on the pitch at New York New Jersey Stadium following the victory. His celebration produced several potential viral moments, as he did earlier in the tournament. Following Spain's victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals, Keyne made several funny faces as his older brother watched him on the Jumbotron. So, as the Yamal family celebrated Spain's win, here are some of Keyne's top moments during the celebration.

Note: All of Luis de la Fuente's comments were translated from his native Spanish.EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY Spain manager Luis de la Fuente was on cloud nine after leading La Roja to their second ever World Cup, denying Argentina the trophy with a 1-0 win at MetLife Stadium on Sunday."I never thought of anything like this," De la Fuente said. "I always just wanted joy in moments. When you look back at this process, I would not have achieved anything without these players. The journey with this raw material, this talent. Spanish footballers, the way they compete. These players are amazing."MORE Rodri ever the maestro as Spain keep cool vs Argentinas street fightersDe la Fuente heaped praise on his players and staff, and also had some banter for Marc Cucurella regarding the Real Madrid defender's much-publicized vow to get a tattoo of his coach's face if they won the World Cup."Im no longer of an age to be getting tattoos," De la Fuente said, mentioning that other players had been looped into the vow. "I already told them they were wrong to say theyd get my face tattooed, because theyre men of their word and theyre going to follow through. I am not so ugly, though."The great motivator had been praised for getting his team to buy into a collective that often asked the individuals to sacrifice some of their preferred playing methods on the pitch, and that includes teenager Lamine Yamal.Yet it's easy to see why players want to follow the man after he lifted the lid on what he told them before the game. I said gentlemen we have an appointment with history, and we want to be there first, De la Fuente said. Getty Images Luis de la Fuente on Spain winning World Cup, limiting Messi, the play of Lamine Yamal, and moreOpening thoughts: "First of all I would like to thank the whole staff and everyone who worked with us," De la Fuente said. "The players are the true protagonists. Someone said after the semifinal happiness must feel like this but also we feel pride and satisfaction to great players and humans who will go down in history."How are you feeling? "Well what are we feeling? Satisfaction, pride. It's such an honor to be the coach of these amazing players and have such an amazing staff with everyone at our training camp. Rodri, we've always said that he's the best player in the world. He has so much future ahead of him. I hope that when players go through tough times, we are more patient and we do not try to undermine the players journey because he can win the next Ballon d'Or as can so many of our players."On what's next for Spain? "Once we finished the game, there were footballers who said now what else is there to win as we've won everything in all categories. What remains in the next match in September. The team are relentless."On Lamine Yamal: "I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for becoming a great footballer. He's really sacrificed for the collective good. In my opinion he played a great World Cup."Do you want to lead the country into the home World Cup in 2030? "We are privileged to represent who we represent in our country. I believe that the real success lies in people with values and principles who make our lives easier. It's not difficult to find good people who want to work and do things in a generous way. I don't think I'm an alien. I come from the earth and I know we are not in a hurry. We want to complete each stage and now we want to enjoy this. I could tell you we're thinking a little bit about September but let's enjoy this. Let's take this one game at a time."How were you able to bottle up Lionel Messi? "We had a game plan where the first idea was to keep Messi at bay but also other players away from our goal. Something very important was the attitude of our players. We were convinced it was our final and we wanted to go all out for this final. If it wasn't for their keeper we might've had a larger win."

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In four years, we'll be celebrating another edition of the World Cup. We'll be transfixed on a competition that will span six countries across three continents with possibly 64 teams taking part in sport's greatest spectacle. More than likely, we'll be seeing the likes of France's Kylian Mbapp, England's Jude Bellingham, Norway's Erling Haaland, Spain's Lamine Yamal and many other names who kept us enthralled this summer. We'll likely not have Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the spotlight, but you can't count anything out, especially when it comes to the GOAT conversation. It's never too early to think about which players whether they already feature in 2026 or are part of teams (e.g. Italy) that should make the cut in four years' time. In no particular order, let's look at who we'll be keeping tabs on in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup. Sciaretta: It was a World Cup to forget for Pulisic. In fact, 2026 has been brutal for the Hershey, Pennsylvania, native. But it is silly to think that Pulisic is going anywhere. He will be 31 at the next World Cup, and the U.S. team will be looking for the veteran leadership it lacked this time around. It would not be surprising at all if Pulisic turns it around in 2030, like Landon Donovan did in 2010 after a terrible 2006 tournament. Echegaray: It is extremely difficult to single out anyone from this Spanish side. From Lamine Yamal to Pedri, this is a force of nature and full of youthful dynamic talent. But let me focus on Gavi because, despite not being one of the more obvious names to point out from this tournament, I think he will continue to become one of Spains most important players. Spain, more than possession, is about recovery of possession, and Rodri is untouchable in this regard. But at 30 years old, there will be a need for a replacement. Gavi, who follows in the footsteps of his Spanish teammate, will grow into that. Bonetti: After winning the Scudetto with Inter Milan, he skied Italy's first penalty in the playoff shootout against Bosnia and Herzegovina as Italy made it three World Cups without an appearance. He watched this summer from his couch, but by 2030, he's the redemption story Italy builds around. Echegaray: OReilly was magnificent for the Three Lions at this World Cup before losing to Argentina. The fullback/midfielder is versatile, wise beyond his years and already playing at one of the biggest clubs on the planet. So when it comes to mentality and the ability to face any type of opponent? Been there, done that. The fact that he is only 21 is, honestly, too difficult to comprehend because he plays like a veteran at the international level. He will continue to improve and become one of the best players of his position in the world. Of that, I have no doubt. Sciaretta: The teenage Barcelona central defender has had a remarkable year, 31 starts for Barcelona en route to a La Liga title. Now, hes part of Spains elite defense. What hes doing at this level, at this age and at this position, is remarkable. In 2030, we could be talking about maybe the greatest defender in the game. Bonetti: A Champions League revelation for Real Madrid, who then sobbed through Trkiye's three-game flameout this summer. Sixty-two shots, zero goals, one apology. Jos Mourinho's return to Madrid and whoever is in charge of Trkiye at the 2030 World Cup owe him better. Echegaray: Summervilles next move this summer will dictate the next few years of his immense potential as he was a key player for the Netherlands at this World Cup. By 2030, he will be in his prime and if the Dutch indeed can finally become a major contender for the tournament, Summerville should play a major role. It all depends on where he will go this summer as West Ham, now in the Championship, knows it has to sell its star. Sciaretta: One year ago, Freeman was only in his first season as a starter for Orlando City. Now, hes in La Liga and the starter for the U.S. national team. The highly athletic defender has enjoyed a meteoric rise and should be part of the next generation of American players. Bonetti: He was benched for the loss to England in the quarterfinal, then nearly won it coming off of it. Aston Villa is circling at a 43 million move. Norway's succession plan starts on his left wing. Echegaray: Mora was very impressive in Mexicos inspiring campaign at the World Cup. At 17, it was incredibly fun to see the young man compete at the highest level and not only did he not look out of place, he showed glimpses of his raw abilities. A move to Europe is almost imperative, but it has to be the right club and the correct timing. One thing is for sure, his path and the chance of becoming a major star for El Tri in 2030 is a major possibility. Bonetti: The heir to Virgil Van Dijks throne at Anfield. It wasn't the best of seasons as he tore his ACL 81 minutes into his Liverpool debut and missed everything, including Italy's latest playoff funeral. A 6-foot-5 star in the making rebuilt in the gym. Sciaretta: Bouaddi has already shown a ton of class for an 18-year-old central midfielder. It is clear he is going to be sold by Lille for a lot of money sooner than later. Echegaray: The 20-year-old did not feature much during Frances campaign. But that particular cameo against Morocco was impressive, and I feel theres so much more to come from the midfielder. Something also tells me that he wont stay at Paris Saint-Germain much longer as he will need another club in order to find more playing time. By 2030, he could be ready just in time to become a major force for Les Bleus. Bonetti: Serie A's most elegant left foot earned an hour against Jordan and looked like he belonged. Real Madrid holds the buyback. He inherits whatever Lionel Messi leaves behind. Sciaretta: Hungarys exciting left back is fun to watch at Liverpool. He loves to get forward and plays with a lot of intensity. The question is whether Hungary can get to the World Cup. There is always plenty of room for upsets these days in an expanded World Cup. Echegaray: Mbaye is a tremendous talent but needs to leave Paris Saint-Germain in order to find a brighter role. Selfishly, I would adore him for Aston Villa as I feel Unai Emery could turn him into a superstar. But there are many clubs interested in his services, including Borussia Dortmund, which is reportedly inquiring about him for the upcoming season. For Senegal, its clear to see that hes a special talent, as that wonderful stoppage-time goal against France showed, making him the youngest African male player to get on the scoresheet at the World Cup. Mbaye is a gem, and I cant wait to see what happens next. Sciaretta: The 20-year-old central midfielder from Alaska did not play much this World Cup, but he is a big part of the Mexican teams future. His transfer from Seattle to Atltico Madrid has gone smoothly, and he will continue to progress in Spain. Bonetti: Remember the name now. Bundesliga Rookie of the Season, man of the match in his World Cup debut at 19. Only Lamine Yamal outproduced him among Europe's teenagers. Excellent one-on-one dribbler. Seems to be bound for Paris Saint-Germain, where he could really shine. Sciaretta: Italys failure to qualify for the last three World Cups is one of the most baffling stories in the history of the tournament. Even in the Azzurris last two appearances (2010 and 2014), the team was grouped. If Italy returns in 2030, all eyes will be on the team as it tries to revive one of the World Cups most historically important teams. Bastoni should be front and center of Italys efforts in the coming years as he is one of the best central defenders in the world. Bonetti: One heavy touch against Norway on the breakaway is the sad memory he leaves behind in his first World Cup of his career. Eight goals in half a season at Lyon says the talent's real after a rocky start at Real Madrid. Age is on his side. Jos Mourinho decides what's next for him at the Bernabeu. Echegaray: There is definite personal interest and hope from yours truly, but it doesnt come without context.PippoChavez is a promising attacking midfielder, and at 18, the sky is the limit, especially under the guidance of Bayern Munich and playing in a great, nurturing league such as the Bundesliga. Born in Germany to a German mother and Peruvian father, Chavez switched allegiance to Peru back in 2023 and made his senior debut last October in a 2-1 loss against Chile. My hope here is that a.) Peru gets its act together and improves significantly in the next four years whilst b.) Chavez keeps evolving, thus helping La Blanquirroja finally reach a second World Cup in 48 years. Sciaretta: The Danish forward is coming off a great first season in Napoli with 12 goals in 33 Serie A games. He was at the club on loan from Manchester United, and to keep him, Napoli spent nearly $52 million. The 23-year-old forward from Copenhagen also has 13 goals in 35 caps for Denmark. With Hjlund in his prime, Denmark should get back to the World Cup and potentially be very good. Echegaray: Karl was sadly another player who suffered an injury in the lead up to the World Cup, but he is an incredible talent who will surely be a very crucial factor towards helping Germany get over a disappointing run in the tournament. If Jrgen Klopp indeed becomes the next manager, I think the Bayern Munich left-footed forward could be a major force in the next few years. Bonetti: Another reason why the future is bright for Norway. He took Antonio Nusa's starting spot, scored the opener against England, set up both of Erling Haaland's goals against Brazil. Super-sub no more. A Premier League move feels like a formality. Echegaray: This is definitely a "watch this space" selection. I have high hopes for the Colombian striker, who ended as top goalscorer in last years U-20 World Cup as Colombia finished in third place. He recently joined Cruzeiro in Brazil, but I see him leaving next year for Europe. After that? Who knows, but as Colombias options upfront are only getting older, Villarreal could be the next man to lead the line. Sciaretta: The Manchester United striker took awhile to heat up for the Red Devils in his first season but was in solid form by the end. Prior to that, he was a star for RB Leipzig in Germany. Slovenia is a tough national team to figure out. It struggled in qualifying but was surprisingly good at Euro 2024. But with continued progress, Slovenia can qualify and Sesko can lead the way. If that happens, hell be a highly anticipated player in 2030. Echegaray: The 19-year-old sensation sadly missed this World Cup due to a torn hamstring back in April. But the winger will undoubtedly return, as Brazil once again aims to qualify for the 2030 edition and win the coveted trophy, which by then will be a 28-year drought. It will need more pizzazz and the rebirth of joga bonito. Estevao who, back in September against Chile, became the youngest Brazilian to score for the national team since Pel can be the spark thats sorely needed. Bonetti: Sweden's playoff-crashing run ended with France's 3-0 knockout hammer, but the 20-year-old midfielder belonged. Four more years of Premier League seasoning will make him Scandinavia's metronome in 2030. Sciaretta: Harrington had a tough ending to his 2026 World Cup when he missed his penalty in Australias shootout loss to Egypt. But the 18-year-old central defender was impressive as the youngest starter ever for Australia at the World Cup. He looks mature beyond his years and has had a breakout season with the Colorado Rapids, which will likely sell him soon as interest in Harrington is very high.