Messi: Clash with Yamal in the World Cup final after a photo as a child - this

According to Soccernews.

Context

Lionel Messi, representing Argentina, and Lamine Yamal, playing for Spain, both have significant influence on their teams. Messi, with his experience and leadership qualities, will be looking to lead Argentina to victory, while Yamal, as a young talent, is looking to make his mark on World Cup history, which could impact his career at Barcelona.

Why is this important

The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain promises to be a historic event, especially given the meeting between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. The clash symbolizes a generational transition, pitting Messi's experience against the youth of Yamal, who has already established himself as a star in world football. The success of one of the teams in this match can significantly affect their reputation on the international stage.

Key takeaways

• Messi: Clash with Yamal in the World Cup final after a photo as a child - this.
• Lionel Messi shares his impressions of the upcoming final against Lamine Yamal, recalling the famous photo from their childhood.
• Messi: Facing Yamal in World Cup final after baby photo is ‘crazy’.

Lionel Messi admitted it was "mad" to face Lamine Yamal in the World Cup final, 19 years after they posed together for a photo shoot when Yamal was just a baby. During his early days at Barcelona, ​​Messi famously took the photo with Yamal, who was just five months old at the time. This image was part of a charity photo shoot organized by UNICEF and the Spanish newspaper Sport.

Ahead of the final, which is likely to be Messi's last with Argentina, Yamal will try to stop the 39-year-old striker from lifting football's most prestigious trophy for a second time. A few days before Argentina played Spain in New Jersey, Messi attended a FIFA event in New York where he was asked about the famous photo. "This photo is incredible. The fact that we are both playing in the World Cup now is crazy," Messi said.

"He is one of the best in the world at the moment. I wish him good luck because his success will be Barcelona's success. We will try not to let him perform at his best. Spain has a great team, and it's not just about him. He is an amazing player - a global star. He is 19 years old and has his whole life ahead of him. I wish him all the best, but we will do everything possible to not let him become champion this time."

If both stars Messi (born June 1987) and Yamal (born July 2007) start, it will be the first time in World Cup history that a final has featured players more than 20 years apart (20 years and 19 days) in age. Messi will be the second-oldest player to take the field in a World Cup final (39 years and 25 days), after Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoffa, who played at 40 years and 133 days in 1982.

With eight goals and four assists in this tournament, Messi is in contention for both the Golden Boot and the Ballon d'Or. He has also taken the most shots (34) and created the most scoring chances (25) at the 2026 World Cup, tied for the most (59) with Diego Maradona in 1986 (29 shots, 30 chances created).

Yamal cannot boast the same impressive numbers, scoring one goal - against Saudi Arabia in the group - and not providing a single assist. However, Yamal ranks first in the number of goals carried that end with a shot (12), while only Messi and Kylian Mbappe (33) have taken more shots than his 23. Midfielder Mikel Merino, who came on as a substitute and scored the decisive goals in Spain's victories over Portugal and Belgium, also commented on the photo: “The first time I saw it, I thought it was artificial intelligence and that it was even not real!It's incredible that two of the best players to ever play football - and hopefully Lamine will be one of them in the future - share a photo like this. I hope we get to see a very strong finale with these two heroes at the peak of their powers, performing and giving all the fans a great spectacle."

What happens next

The match between Argentina and Spain will be a key moment for both teams, determining their season outlook and chances for further success in world football. Messi will likely be looking to win his last final, while Yamal will be looking to showcase his skills and help Spain win the title. The outcome of this match could also affect the future of players at their clubs, such as Barcelona.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current form of Argentina and Spain heading into the World Cup final?

Argentina and Spain are heading into the World Cup finals with strong squads, but specific details about the teams' current form are not provided in the article.

Are there any injuries or missing players in the Argentina and Spain squads?

The article does not mention injuries or missing players in the Argentina and Spain squads.

What are the bets on the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain?

The World Cup final is an important event as Messi could play his last match for Argentina.

What does the match mean for Lionel Messi?

For Lionel Messi, the World Cup final could be his last chance to win this prestigious trophy for a second time.

What is the historical significance of the meeting between Messi and Yamal in the final?

If Messi and Yamal take the field in the starting lineup, it will be the first time in the history of the World Cup that players separated in age by more than 20 years play in the final.

Similar articles

• Mundial 2026
• Mundial 2026
• Mundial 2026
• Mundial 2026
• 2026 World Cup, results, June 20 - Championship

Similar articles

• Marco Baroni: “The team is not complete yet, several players are missing”

Similar articles

• The last smile of Miklos Fehera. Number 29: T-shirt forever retirada