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River Plate U-16 Wins Inaugural Messi Cup in Miami on Cabral Brace

Attention now turns to 15-year-old MVP Bruno Cabral’s future under rules that prevent a professional contract until he turns 16.

Overview

  • River beat Atlético de Madrid 2-0 in the final at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, with Bruno Cabral scoring both goals to secure the title.
  • The Argentine side protected its lead after a second-half red card to Valentín Sayago, closing out the match a player down.
  • River advanced by finishing second in its group (draw vs. Barcelona, loss vs. Manchester City, win vs. Inter Milan) and defeated Chelsea 3-1 in the semifinals.
  • Cabral finished as tournament MVP and top scorer with seven goals across five matches, capping a prolific year for club and Argentina’s U-15s.
  • European interest in Cabral has been reported following his breakout, but he cannot sign a professional deal until 2026, and local reports say River is moving to secure him when eligible.