Crystal Palace now have a World Cup winner in their ranks after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 final. Yeremy Pino became the first Palace player to lift the trophy while at the club, adding a second major honour to his name after the Eagles’ 1-0 Conference League win over Rayo Vallecano on 27 May 2026.
What happened in Qatar?
Pino played twice in the World Cup finals, clocking 69 minutes in total. His biggest contribution came in qualifying when he scored in Spain’s 2-0 win over Georgia last October. A heavy collision in the group-stage draw with Uruguay left him with a left-shoulder sprain, not the feared collarbone, and he recovered in time for the knockout rounds. Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente left him on the bench in the final, but Pino still leaves Qatar as a world champion.
Why it matters for Crystal Palace
The 23-year-old arrived from Villarreal for £21.5 million in the summer of 2025 and has spent his first season adjusting to England’s physicality. Across 51 appearances he managed five goals and five assists, a return that felt light given his 39 starts. Former boss Oliver Glasner insisted in March that Pino’s training displays showed “what a great player he is,” urging him to relax and trust his finishing. Palace shipped 51 goals last season and finished 15th with 45 points, 40 behind Arsenal, so any lift in confidence can only help.
Pino’s World Cup medal is also a reminder of the club’s recent recruitment. Twelve Palace players were in Qatar, several among the tournament’s standout performers, and now one returns as a global champion. That pedigree is part of why the Eagles have climbed to a recent two-game winning run - their last five games read WWLLD - and sit on a positive goal difference of minus-10.
What comes next under Pierre Sage?
Sage takes over with a clear plan: win the ball back quickly and let attackers play wider. That system should suit Pino, who often looked hemmed in under Glasner’s narrower approach. Palace open pre-season with the Como Cup, but Pino will miss the Lens and Famalicão friendlies through injury. He is expected back for the away friendly at Freiburg on 15 August 2026, giving him two weeks to bed in before the Premier League curtain-raiser.
Last year’s surprise package Daichi Kamada needed time to adapt only to become a key player. Pino’s technical ability, intelligence and one-touch passing could flourish in Sage’s more expansive style, provided he regains the self-belief Glasner saw in training every day.
