Why Messi, Mbappé and Lamine Yamal are holding Chinese milk cartons

Spain emerged victorious in the 2026 World Cup final, defeating Argentina 1-0 to stand at the apex of the football world.

The club’s 19-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal faced former Barcelona legend and global football icon Lionel Messi, now with Inter Miami.

The Golden Boot, meanwhile, went to Kylian Mbappé, the star of Barcelona’s longtime rival Real Madrid.

But fans were not the only ones smiling as the tournament’s biggest names made it all the way to the end.

In one promotional image, Messi, Lamine Yamal and Mbappé are seen together, each holding a carton of milk.

The world "Mengniu," the name of one of China's largest dairy companies, is prominently displayed above them.

As an official FIFA World Cup sponsor, fans who followed this year’s expanded 48-team tournament will surely have seen Chinese characters flashing across stadium screens.

The dairy company was not the only Chinese company to use the World Cup as an opportunity for marketing, with Lenovo and Hisense also making their presence felt.

Lenovo belonged to the highest sponsorship tier as a FIFA Partner, while M ...