Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will come face to face on Sunday as Argentina and Spain battle to win the prestigious FIFA World Cup trophy.
Ahead of the much anticipated final, Messi enjoyed a fun meeting with NFL’s greatest player of all time and arguably soccer’s, Tom Brady, who asked the Argentina captain about the picture that has followed this World Cup final since the matchup was set.
An iconic picture of Messi bathing Yamal as a baby. Brady described the image as “very prophetic,” with Yamal now tipped to take over from Messi when he calls time on his career.
Asked about facing Yamal with the trophy on the line, Messi made his admiration for the 19-year-old clear – before offering a gentle reminder that Argentina will not be stepping aside.
Argentina and Spain will play the 2026 FIFA World Cup final (Photo by FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
“He is already one of the leading players in world football at 19 years old,” Messi said at FIFA and Fanatics’ World Cup event. “He has his whole career ahead of him and has a great opportunity to achieve something historic.
“I always wish him the best and want the best for him. We will try to play a great game and stop him from showing his best level, even though that is very difficult. Spain aren’t only Lamine. They have great players and play very well, but we have our weapons too.”
Messi’s famous picture was Yamal was taken in 2007. Yamal at that time was only a few months old and Messi was beginning his rise at Barcelona.
It resurfaced in 2024, when Yamal’s father described it as “the beginning of two legends.”
Both players will fight for bragging right on Sunday with Messi expected to continue his impressive form at the tournament.
Messi currently has eight goals and four assists in seven appearances, bringing his career World Cup totals to 21 goals and 12 assists in 33 games.
Meanwhile, Yamal’s first World Cup has been quieter, with one goal and no assists across seven appearances.
