Lionel Messi admits it is “crazy” that he will face Lamine Yamal in the World Cup final, 19 years after holding the Spain winger for a photo when he was a baby.
During Messi’s early days at Barcelona, he posed alongside Yamal – who was five months old at the time – in a now-famous image that was part of a charity photoshoot organised by UNICEF and Spanish newspaper Sport.
Now, in what will likely be Messi’s final World Cup match with Argentina, Yamal will attempt to prevent the 39-year-old from lifting football’s most iconic trophy for a second time.
Ahead of Argentina’s clash with Spain in New Jersey on Sunday, Messi appeared at a FIFA event in New York, where he was asked about the photo.
“That photo is incredible. The fact that we’re both playing in the World Cup now is crazy,” Messi said.
“He’s one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success.
“We’ll try to keep him from playing at his best. Spain have a great team, not just him.
“He’s a tremendous player – a global star. He’s 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him.
“I wish him the best, but we’ll give it our all to ensure he doesn’t become champion this time.”
Magical photo by the @FundacioFCB
The story behind this photo https://t.co/Nzm1L6Ou3h
Joan Monfort (Diari Sport) pic.twitter.com/ukT4XgyNph
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 16, 2026
If both Messi (born June 1987) and Yamal (born July 2007) start, it will be the first time in World Cup history that a final has seen starters on opposite sides separated in age by at least 20 years (20 years, 19 days).
Messi will become the second-oldest player to appear in a World Cup final (39 years, 25 days), behind Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff in 1982 (40 years, 133 days).
With eight goals and four assists to his name at this tournament, Messi is in contention for both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards.
In addition, Messi has had the most shots (34) and created the most chances (25) at the 2026 World Cup, the most combined (59) since Diego Maradona in 1986 (29 shots, 30 chances created), the second of the three editions Argentina have won.
Maradona in 1986 is also the only player in the last 60 years to have the outright most shots and create the outright most chances at a single edition, while no player on record has ever had 30+ shots and created 30+ chances at one World Cup.
Yamal has not registered the same kind of earth-shattering numbers, scoring one goal – against Saudi Arabia in the group stage – and failing to provide an assist.
However, Yamal ranks joint-first – alongside Messi – for carries resulting in a shot (12), while only Messi and Kylian Mbappe (33) have had more shots in total than his 23.
Midfielder Mikel Merino, who came off the bench to score the winning goals in Spain’s knockout victories over Portugal and Belgium, was also asked about the photo, responding: “The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn’t even real!
“It’s unbelievable that two of the best players to have played the game – and hopefully Lamine, in the future, will be one of those – share a picture like that.
“Hopefully we’re going to see a very bright final with those two protagonists at their best, playing and giving all the fans a great spectacle.”
