EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lionel Messi was left in tears and with his international future uncertain after he was unable to conjure up one more piece of magic to save Argentina from defeat to Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.

Ferran Torres scored 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, lifting Spain to a 1-0 victory and the country’s second World Cup title, denying Messi and Argentina the chance to become the first back-to-back men’s champion since Brazil accomplished the feat in 1962.

Speaking after the match, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni reflected on Messi’s legacy regardless of Sunday’s outcome. “I hope that everyone feels proud of him, of what he’s achieved because he’s the best football player ever stepping foot on a pitch,” Scaloni said.

An uncertain path forward

Whether Sunday marked Messi’s final appearance in an Argentina jersey remains an open question. Messi had previously said the 2022 World Cup, which Argentina won, would be his last major tournament before going on to become the first man in history to play in six World Cups just last month. Scaloni said afterward that he had not yet spoken with Messi about whether the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner intends to continue playing for the national team. Messi, along with the rest of Argentina’s players, did not stop to speak with reporters as they exited the stadium following the loss.

Inside a stadium packed with 80,663 fans, the overwhelming majority appeared to be rooting for a recoronation of Messi as a two-time champion. Instead, he fought back tears and wore a look of visible anguish as he and his teammates faced applauding, bowing Argentina supporters at the stadium’s south end, even as Spanish players lifted the trophy on a podium at midfield.

A dominant performance from Spain

Spain’s control of the match was thorough from start to finish, both in Sunday’s final and across the tournament as a whole. La Furia Roja held a commanding 20-2 advantage in shots and out-passed Argentina 845 to 433 over the course of the match.

Torres, who scored the decisive goal, described the psychological weight of facing Messi in a final. “When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous,” Torres said. “At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again.”

After leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 final against France, sandwiched between consecutive Copa América titles, Messi could only bow his head, grimace and place his hands on his hips as Spain’s Lamine Yamal, not yet a week past his 19th birthday and already regarded as the sport’s next transcendent star, ran to embrace Torres following the winning goal.

From doubts in MLS to World Cup history

When Messi left European soccer for Major League Soccer three years ago, having collected four Champions League medals and 12 league titles between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, some speculated he might quietly fade into retirement. Instead, he led Argentina back to this year’s final, contributing eight goals and four assists across the tournament and lifting his career World Cup goal total to 21, a mark that had stood as the all-time record until France’s Kylian Mbappé scored twice in Saturday’s third-place match to move ahead of him with 22.

Messi also became the first player in history to start three separate World Cup finals, and Sunday’s match pushed his career international goal total to 125, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo’s mark of 146. For many observers, this tournament only further cemented Messi’s standing as the greatest player in the sport’s history, surpassing even Diego Maradona and three-time World Cup champion Pelé in the eyes of many fans and analysts.

A frustrating final for Argentina’s captain

Messi’s distinctive playing style, a slow, deliberate walk with his arms swinging at his sides before bursting into a sprint at the decisive moment, made him the center of attention any time he touched the ball on the right flank. Opponents and fans alike anticipated his signature cut toward the center of the field, followed by a shot from his dangerous left foot.

On Sunday, however, Messi finished with just 15 touches in the first half and 54 total for the match, at a stadium where he has repeatedly faced frustration over the years. He had famously announced his retirement from international soccer following a penalty-shootout loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa América final at the same venue, only to reverse that decision 47 days later and eventually lead Argentina to its third World Cup title.

Against Spain, Messi was never able to receive the ball in a dangerous scoring position, and his attempted passes to teammates repeatedly failed to connect. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente acknowledged after the match that neutralizing Messi had been central to his team’s game plan. “The first idea was to keep Messi at bay,” de la Fuente said.

A gracious moment amid the heartbreak

Half a dozen Spanish players approached Messi after the final whistle to hug and console him. Messi dropped to the grass, sitting with his hands behind him, staring ahead in visible disbelief. When Spain’s players later formed a guard of honor for Argentina’s squad to walk through en route to receiving their second-place medals, Messi attempted to smile but could not manage it, maintaining a blank expression as a few Spanish opponents patted him on the back and chest in a show of respect.

Spain crowned a global soccer power

With the win, Spain became the first nation in history to simultaneously hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles, further cementing the country’s status as the dominant force in international soccer. As gold confetti fluttered down onto the celebrating Spanish players, Messi walked out through one of the stadium’s corner exits, his shoulders hunched and his expression somber, closing out a tournament that may yet prove to be the final chapter of his extraordinary World Cup career.

Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina drew far more than soccer fans to New York New Jersey Stadium, with the venue’s stands, suites and red carpet packed with an extraordinary roster of celebrities spanning entertainment, sports, business and politics for what organizers billed as one of the most star-studded closings in tournament history.

The championship match, played at what is commonly known as MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, capped a tournament that had drawn celebrity attention throughout its run, beginning with performances from Shakira, Michael Buble and Katy Perry at the opening ceremonies weeks earlier. FIFA built Sunday’s closing festivities to match that scale, adding a first for the tournament’s biggest stage: an official halftime show.

A historic halftime show

For the first time in World Cup history, the championship match paused at halftime for a full musical performance, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Headliners Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS represented the United States, Colombia, Canada and South Korea respectively, joined by British rockers Coldplay, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Los Angeles Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel and New York’s PS22 Chorus, along with characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.

Bieber, reflecting on his involvement ahead of the show, said in a statement that the World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can, adding that he felt grateful to be part of the halftime show and that its proceeds were already helping expand educational access for children worldwide.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino echoed that sentiment in a press release, saying organizers were thrilled to have so many stars from both football and entertainment taking part, and that the ceremony was designed to set the tone for a historic final uniting the passion of the tournament’s 48 teams, 16 host cities and millions of fans.

Musicians and performers across the closing ceremony

Beyond the halftime show, the tournament’s closing ceremony featured Jennifer Hudson performing the U.S. national anthem, while Argentine singer Maria Becerra performed her country’s anthem ahead of kickoff. The broader closing lineup included Post Malone, Swae Lee, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and internet personality-turned-musician IShowSpeed, who performed a backflip as part of his set. Tenor Christopher Macchio also delivered a rendition of “America the Beautiful” as part of the pregame festivities.

Sports and entertainment icons fill the stands

The crowd inside the stadium featured an equally dense concentration of star power. David and Victoria Beckham attended with sons Romeo and Cruz, along with their respective partners, while Jay-Z and Beyonce were on hand fresh off a run of concerts at Yankee Stadium the previous week. Actor Timothee Chalamet served as the match’s ceremonial ball carrier, arriving alongside girlfriend Kylie Jenner, who was photographed sharing a kiss with the actor during the match.

Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and actress Hoyeon presented the Louis Vuitton trunk containing the World Cup trophy ahead of kickoff, while Spanish World Cup-winning midfielder Andres Iniesta was also present for the presentation. NFL legend Tom Brady, who had appeared at a World Cup-related event at Fanatics Fest in New York days earlier, attended the final alongside a wide range of athletes and entertainers, including Kevin Durant, Kevin Hart, Travis Scott, Novak Djokovic and former England international Rio Ferdinand, several of whom had gathered for a widely shared selfie with tournament finalists Rodri, Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Messi at Fanatics Fest that Friday.

Political leaders join the celebration

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made a rare joint public appearance for the final, with the president photographed shaking hands with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez alongside Infantino, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney were also present, alongside Carney’s wife, Diana Fox Carney, reflecting the shared hosting arrangement between the three North American countries.

Hollywood and music’s biggest names turn out

The red carpet and stands featured a sprawling list of additional attendees spanning film, music and television. Actors Tom Cruise, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Javier Bardem, Richard Gere, John Hamm, Norman Reedus, Jessica Alba, Adrien Brody and Anya Taylor-Joy, the latter of whom grew up partly in Buenos Aires and attended with husband Malcolm McRae, were among those spotted at the match. Musicians including Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Mick Jagger, Pharrell Williams, Drake, Future, Dua Lipa and her husband Callum Turner, Sexyy Red, Yeat, 21 Savage and Central Cee were also seen throughout the venue.

Sports figures beyond the soccer world were similarly well represented, with WWE’s Roman Reigns attending with his family, alongside NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, NBA veterans James Harden and Victor Wembanyama, and tennis legend Serena Williams. Television personality Gayle King attended with her son, while MrBeast and girlfriend Thea Booysen, comedian Trevor Noah, and internet stars Druski and Winnie Harlow were also spotted across the venue’s various suites and hospitality areas.

A finale matching the tournament’s scale

The extensive celebrity presence throughout Sunday’s final reflected FIFA’s broader ambitions for the tournament, which organizers have described as the largest and most attended World Cup in the competition’s history. With Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina closing out the six-week tournament, Sunday’s blend of sporting drama and cultural spectacle underscored the scale of an event that FIFA and its partners had spent years building toward, drawing together fans, athletes, entertainers and world leaders alike for the championship match’s dramatic conclusion.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ADC; VICI; MPT; CLPR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Apple is piloting a new artificial intelligence tool designed for use at its Genius Bar locations that transcribes and summarizes conversations between employees and customers, a feature that has already prompted concerns among staff about how the resulting data might be used to evaluate their performance.

The tool, called Live Notes, was first reported by Bloomberg’s “Power On” newsletter as part of the outlet’s ongoing coverage of Apple’s internal artificial intelligence initiatives. According to the report, Live Notes uses AI to listen to interactions between Genius Bar employees and customers, generating a transcript and summary of the conversation so that staff members can focus more fully on the customer in front of them rather than manually taking notes throughout the exchange.

How the tool is designed to work

Live Notes requires consent from both parties before activation, according to the report, meaning both the employee and the customer must agree to its use during any given interaction. There is currently no indication that Apple plans to make the tool mandatory for Genius Bar staff, and the available reporting suggests it is being introduced as an optional, time-saving feature rather than a company-wide requirement.

Despite those built-in consent requirements, some Genius Bar employees have reportedly expressed concern about the broader implications of having their customer interactions recorded, transcribed and summarized by an AI system, given the potential for that data to later be reviewed by management as part of performance evaluations.

Apple’s current safeguards during testing

According to the report, Apple has implemented a specific policy during the current testing phase intended to address those concerns directly: managers are not given access to the transcripts generated by Live Notes, and employees themselves retain the ability to edit the transcripts produced from their conversations. However, it remains unclear whether that policy protecting employees from manager access will remain in place once testing concludes and the tool potentially moves toward a broader rollout.

That uncertainty around long-term data access appears to be a central source of the unease among staff, since a policy limiting managerial visibility during a testing phase does not necessarily guarantee the same protections will persist if and when the tool becomes a permanent fixture of the Genius Bar workflow.

Part of a broader push into internal AI tools

Live Notes appears to be one piece of a larger effort by Apple to integrate artificial intelligence into its internal operations and employee-facing tools, following earlier reports of separate AI assistants being tested across the company. One previously reported tool, called Enchante, is designed to help employees proofread written work, brainstorm ideas and answer general knowledge questions. A second tool, referred to as Enterprise Assistant, is built around a centralized internal knowledge hub intended to help employees quickly access company information and resources.

According to the report, Live Notes could represent a variation of the broader Enterprise Assistant framework, though the exact relationship between the tools has not been detailed publicly. Both Enchante and Enterprise Assistant reportedly rely on Apple’s own foundation AI models, and while the specific underlying technology behind Live Notes has not been confirmed, it is considered likely to be built on the same internal Apple AI infrastructure given the company’s broader approach to these tools.

No timeline for a wider rollout

There is currently no publicly available information regarding a rollout timeline for Live Notes, nor any confirmed details about how or whether the tool might eventually be implemented more broadly across Apple’s retail locations. Based on available reporting, the tool is expected to remain optional for both employees and customers even if it eventually moves beyond its current testing phase, though Apple has not issued public comment confirming those plans.

Part of a broader industry trend

Apple’s testing of Live Notes comes amid a broader wave of AI tool adoption across the technology industry, both in customer-facing and internal workplace contexts. Many companies across sectors have introduced AI tools for employees in recent years, with some organizations mandating their use as part of broader efficiency and productivity initiatives. So far, available reporting has not indicated that Apple is taking a similarly mandatory approach with any of its internal AI tools, including Live Notes, positioning the company’s current strategy as more conservative and employee-consent-driven compared with some industry peers.

The concerns raised by Genius Bar staff reflect a broader tension increasingly playing out across workplaces as AI-driven monitoring and transcription tools become more common: balancing the genuine efficiency benefits such tools can offer employees, such as reduced note-taking burden and more focused customer interactions, against legitimate worries about surveillance, performance evaluation, and how collected data might ultimately be used once initial testing safeguards are no longer guaranteed to remain in place.

As Apple continues testing Live Notes and its related internal AI tools, additional details are likely to emerge regarding the company’s longer-term plans for data access policies, potential rollout timelines, and whether the current employee protections established during testing will carry forward into any eventual broader deployment. For now, the tool remains in a limited testing phase, with Apple yet to confirm publicly how it intends to address the underlying employee concerns that have already surfaced around monitoring and evaluation as the technology continues to develop.

This article was written by

Follow

Joe has worked in the financial services industry since 1992 in various capacities, including Operations Manager, Compliance Manager, Registered Representative and Portfolio Manager. From 1997 to 2006, when he founded Alhambra Investment Management, Mr. Calhoun was a Director of Investments at Oppenheimer & Co. Mr. Calhoun holds the Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law) and 65 (Uniform Investment Advisor Law) securities licenses. He has previously taken and passed the Series 7 (General Securities Representative) and Series 9/10 (General Securities Sales Supervisor) securities exams.
Joe proudly served in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine service for 8 years (1983-1990) and was awarded several commendations including the Navy Achievement Medal in 1987. He studied engineering at the University of South Carolina and is a graduate of the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion School. He founded Alhambra Investment Management as a registered investment advisory to address the needs of the individual investor. His market commentaries are widely read and published at various online outlets. He has appeared on Larry Kudlow’s program on CNBC and various radio programs. He is also an editor of the website RealClearMarkets.com.

As Lamine Yamal chased his first World Cup title with Spain, one of his most visible supporters throughout the tournament was his girlfriend, Ines Garcia Santos, a Spanish social media influencer who has become a fixture at the young star’s side both on and off the pitch this year.

Garcia, who also goes by Ines Garcia, recently celebrated her 21st birthday, while Yamal turned 19 earlier this month. After scoring his first goal of the World Cup, Yamal told broadcaster DAZN that he was dedicating the moment to his mother, his girlfriend, his friends and everyone back home in his hometown of Mataro, a comment that offered public confirmation of the relationship’s significance to the young forward during the tournament.

How the relationship became public

Dating rumors between Yamal and Garcia first began circulating earlier this year after the couple was spotted vacationing together in Greece. The pair made their first official public appearance together in May at a dinner hosted by FC Barcelona, Yamal’s club team, marking the point at which their relationship moved more clearly into public view.

According to Garcia, however, the couple’s connection predates that Greece trip by a significant margin. “People started seeing us together when we went to Greece,” she said. “I’ve known Lamine for a lot longer than that. Not quite three years, but a good deal more months than people realize, even now.”

Garcia has also described a deliberate, unhurried approach to how the relationship developed before becoming public. “We gave things time,” she added. “We also spent a long time talking before seeing each other.”

A modern love story, not a movie script

Garcia has been candid about the ordinary, digital-era origins of how she and Yamal first connected, pushing back against any romanticized version of their meeting. Speaking to the Spanish outlet Hola!, she described the reality behind their introduction in blunt terms. “You’re probably expecting some perfect, crazy love story. Like I saw him in a store, the way it supposedly went down… my savior, my hero,” she said. “Here’s the real story: 3, 2, 1… social media!”

That straightforward account reflects a broader trend among young public figures whose relationships increasingly begin through direct online interaction rather than chance encounters, a dynamic Garcia appears comfortable acknowledging openly with fans and media.

A regular presence throughout the tournament

Since the couple went public, Garcia has become a consistent presence at Spain’s World Cup matches, frequently photographed wearing Yamal’s jersey while cheering him on from the stands throughout the tournament’s run. That visibility has made her one of the more closely watched figures among the partners of this year’s World Cup players, particularly as Yamal has emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout stars.

Garcia’s public support extended beyond the matches themselves. When Justin Bieber was announced as one of the performers for the World Cup final’s halftime show, Garcia shared the news to her Instagram story with a message directed at Yamal, writing in Spanish that he should do whatever it takes to reach the final so they could see Bieber perform, adding “Are you listening?? Whatever it takes.”

The couple has also been spotted together outside of soccer contexts this year, including an appearance at a Bad Bunny concert held in Barcelona in Madrid this past May, further underscoring how frequently the two have been seen together publicly throughout 2026.

Personal details and background

According to her Instagram bio, Garcia is originally from Seville, though relatively limited additional biographical information about her is publicly available online, consistent with her relatively private profile compared with some other high-profile partners of professional athletes.

Garcia has also spoken candidly about a personal fear that stands somewhat at odds with her evident love of travel. Speaking to Woman Madame Figaro, she described a longstanding fear of flying that she has been working to overcome gradually. “I love traveling, but I’m terrified of flying,” she said. “The two things don’t really go together, but I’m facing my fears little by little. This summer I’m going to take many trips, both in Spain and abroad, which you’ll see.”

A partnership in the spotlight

As Yamal continues to establish himself as one of the most closely watched young players in world soccer, Garcia’s presence alongside him throughout the 2026 World Cup has placed her firmly within the broader constellation of partners, family members and close supporters who have drawn public attention during the tournament. With Yamal’s profile only expected to grow further following his performances this year, Garcia’s own public visibility appears likely to continue expanding as well, even as she has generally maintained a measured, low-key approach to discussing the relationship publicly compared with the intense media attention surrounding her boyfriend’s on-field success.

Goldman Sachs says these manufacturers are undergoing a product mix shift that could make their business models more resilient to industry cycles while expanding into larger profit pools by leveraging their core manufacturing capabilities.

Contrary to its belief, the market continues to view many of these companies as cyclical auto parts manufacturers with limited pricing power and recurring capital expenditure requirements.

The brokerage expects the Indian auto parts industry, supported by the transition towards precision machining, to post revenue growth of 7% in FY27E, 12% in FY28E and 10% in FY29E. EBITDA is projected to grow 7% in FY27E, 26% in FY28E and 14% in FY29E over the same period.

Also read: Auto components industry expected to grow 8-10% in FY27: ACMA

Here’s why brokerage is bullish

Sansera Engineering – Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Sansera Engineering with a Buy rating and a target price of Rs 4,130 (28% upside). It said the company’s transition into aerospace, defence and semiconductors is expected to support higher margins and better realisations. The brokerage highlighted that semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment manufacturers require precision engineering suppliers, while the wafer fabrication equipment manufacturing supply chain in Southeast Asia presents an opportunity.

Live Events

It added that production-linked incentive (PLI) benefits are not yet reflected in its projections and could provide additional upside. Goldman Sachs also expects the aerospace, defence and semiconductor businesses, along with exports, to provide a strong tailwind to corporate EBITDA margins, while domestic two-wheeler parts outsourcing offers incremental upside.
Craftsman Automation – The brokerage also initiated Craftsman Automation with a target price of Rs 11,600 (27.4% upside). It believes the company’s engine block business is well positioned to benefit from the global data centre build-out. Goldman Sachs also expects aluminium content per vehicle to increase with the transition to electric vehicles, while describing the “local for global” engine parts opportunity as an additional growth driver. It further noted that the ongoing turnaround in Sunbeam should support profitability and return on equity.Read more: Revenue of auto ancillary firms grew at 11% CAGR during 2016-26: Report

Bharat Forge – It also initiated Bharat Forge with a Neutral rating and a target price of Rs 2,120 (3.1% downside). The brokerage said the expected defence growth and the commercial vehicle upcycle are already reflected in the stock price. It expects a commercial vehicle upcycle in North America and Europe over the next two years, while noting that overseas manufacturing operations in Europe and the US continue to struggle and are being wound down. Goldman Sachs expects defence revenue to grow threefold and contribute 22% to consolidated revenue.

Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Samvardhana Motherson with a Neutral rating and a target price of Rs 148 (2% downside).