Nobody saw it coming. Honestly, if you'd told any seasoned scout before the tournament started that Argentina—the nation of Messi and Maradona—would get outplayed in a final by a team that barely squeezed past the group stages, they’d have laughed you out of the stadium. But that’s exactly what went down at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago.
The 2025 under 20 world cup final wasn't just another youth game. It was a tectonic shift in global football. Morocco, the "Atlas Cubs," didn't just win; they dismantled the six-time champions 2-0 on October 19, 2025. It was a masterclass in tactical discipline and pure, unadulterated clinical finishing.
Why the Under 20 World Cup Final Changed Everything
For decades, the U-20 tournament has been the crystal ball of football. It’s where we saw Maradona in ’79 and Messi in 2005. Going into this one, Diego Placente’s Argentina squad looked like a juggernaut. They had won every single match leading up to the final. They had scored 15 goals and conceded only two. They were the heavy favorites, basically the "final boss" of the tournament.
💡 You might also like: Have the Eagles Ever Won a Superbowl? The Real Story Behind Philly’s Rings
Then there was Morocco. They had actually lost to Mexico in the group stage. They needed a nerve-shredding penalty shootout just to get past France in the semi-finals. Most people figured the final would be a victory lap for the Albiceleste.
They were wrong.
The Yassir Zabiri Show
The game turned on its head in the 12th minute. Yassir Zabiri—a name you’ll be hearing a lot more of in the coming years—tore through the defense and forced a foul from Argentina's keeper, Santino Barbi. While Argentina was busy arguing with the ref about whether it should have been a red card, Zabiri just stepped up and curled a free-kick into the top corner. 1-0. Simple as that.
Argentina tried to punch back. They dominated the ball. They won corner after corner. But Morocco’s Ismael Baouf was an absolute wall at the back. In the 29th minute, the sucker punch landed. Morocco won the ball back, Othmane Maamma whipped in a cross, and Zabiri volleyed it home for his second.
The stadium went quiet. Then it erupted.
A Historic Milestone for Africa
This win made Morocco only the second African nation to ever lift this trophy. The first was Ghana back in 2009. Think about that for a second. In nearly 50 years of this tournament, only two teams from the entire continent have reached the summit.
It’s not just a fluke. This is the result of Morocco’s massive investment in their national academy, the Mohammed VI Football Academy. They aren't just "talented" anymore; they are organized.
Breaking Down the Key Performers
If you missed the match, you missed a clinic in defensive transition. Morocco’s coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, knew he couldn't out-skill Argentina in a wide-open game. So he didn't try to. He set up a mid-block that drove the Argentines crazy.
- Othmane Maamma (Morocco): Won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. He was the engine room, transitions personified.
- Benjamin Cremaschi (USA): Even though the US went out in the quarters, Cremaschi walked away with the Golden Boot. His hat-trick against New Caledonia in the group stages (a 9-1 blowout) was legendary.
- Ismael Baouf (Morocco): If there was an award for "Most Professional Clearances," he'd have won it. He didn't let anyone past.
The numbers from the under 20 world cup final are wild when you look at them. Argentina had nearly 65% possession. They had more shots. They had more corners. But Morocco had the goals. It was a classic "efficiency vs. volume" battle, and efficiency won by a landslide.
What’s Next for These Players?
Historically, winning the U-20 Golden Ball is like getting a VIP pass to European stardom. Look at the list:
✨ Don't miss: Dixie Boys World Series 2025: What Really Happened on the Diamond
- Diego Maradona (1979)
- Lionel Messi (2005)
- Paul Pogba (2013)
- Othmane Maamma (2025)
Maamma is already being linked with big moves to Ligue 1 and La Liga. Zabiri, with his brace in the final, has likely doubled his market value in 90 minutes.
The Road to 2027
Football doesn't stop. The dust has barely settled in Chile, and we're already looking at the 2027 edition. FIFA has already announced that it’ll be co-hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
It’s a bit of a weird choice, right? It'll be the first time a youth tournament is co-hosted across two different confederations (UEFA and AFC). It marks the 50th anniversary of the tournament, and after the drama we saw in Santiago, the bar is set incredibly high.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Scouts
If you want to stay ahead of the curve after the under 20 world cup final, keep an eye on these specific trends:
- Watch the Atlas Cubs: Morocco's youth system is officially the gold standard in Africa. Follow their U-17 and U-23 squads; the pipeline is full of talent.
- The MLS Pipeline: Benjamin Cremaschi’s performance proves the MLS is becoming a serious developer of elite youth talent, not just a retirement home for veterans.
- Tactical Shift: Notice how the high-press is being countered by disciplined mid-blocks. If you're a coach or a tactical enthusiast, study Morocco’s 4-1-4-1 shape from the final. It’s a masterclass in neutralizers.
- Scout the 2027 Hosts: Keep a close eye on Uzbekistan’s youth development. They’ve been quietly winning AFC youth titles and will be a massive threat as hosts in 2027.
The 2025 final proved that the gap between the traditional giants and the rest of the world is closing. Argentina's dominance isn't guaranteed anymore. Football is becoming a global game in the truest sense, where a well-funded academy in Rabat can take down a titan in Santiago.