Yamal's hug for Ronaldo . Photo: Reuters .
Immediately after the match ended with a 1-0 victory for Spain in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup on the morning of July 7th, the "La Roja" players erupted in joy at securing their place in the quarter-finals. However, instead of joining the celebrations with his teammates, Yamal immediately approached Ronaldo, who had just suffered a bitter defeat and been eliminated from what would be his final World Cup.
The young Barcelona star proactively hugged and encouraged the Portuguese national team captain as a tribute to one of the greatest players in football history. Yamal's action was quickly praised by the media and fans, seen as a symbol of respect between two generations of players.
Ronaldo made his World Cup debut in 2006, before Yamal was even born (in 2007). The fact that both of them appeared on the World Cup stage and became opponents in the round of 16 created one of the most memorable moments of this year's tournament. Yamal has also admitted that Ronaldo was his childhood idol.
The 2026 tournament will be Ronaldo's last World Cup. Meanwhile, this will be Yamal's first World Cup appearance. The moment the young Spanish star paid tribute to Ronaldo is seen as a generational transition, as a legend gradually closes his chapter, while a new star begins to write his own history.