Lionel Messi has praised Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal ahead of the 2026 World Cup final, but made clear that Argentina will do everything in its power to prevent him from making history.The defending champions will face European champions Spain on Sunday at New York Stadium, New Jersey, as Yamal aims to add another achievement to his growing career.
Messi acknowledged the teenager’s rise but said Argentina’s priority was to ensure that the historic moment did not come at their expense.“Lamin is really amazing,” Messi said. “I’ve followed him a lot because he plays for a team I love very much. He has a chance to achieve something historic – we will try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.”
Messi was speaking to seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest on Friday, where he also spoke about one of the most talked-about images in football in recent days.The photo, taken almost two decades ago, shows 20-year-old Messi bathing baby Yamal during a promotional charity photo shoot in Barcelona. The photo has gone viral again ahead of Sunday’s final because the two will now face each other on football’s biggest stage.Messi said: “That photo with Lamine, now we are facing the final after I took a photo of him when he was a child.” “It’s just crazy.”The photo was taken by freelance photographer Joan Monfort, who admitted he never imagined its significance when he clicked it.
Nearly two decades ago, Monfort photographed teenage Messi bathing a baby in a plastic bathtub during a charity photo shoot. Years later, this child grew up to become the Spanish star Lamine Yamal.And now the pictures have become one of the biggest talking points ahead of the World Cup final between Messi’s Argentina and Yamal’s Spain.“I was never a believer or believe that anything was meant to happen, but I started to have doubts.
This is beyond all reasonable explanations,” Monfort told The Associated Press from his home in Barcelona on Friday.While the image has captured the imagination of football fans, Messi’s focus remains firmly on Sunday’s final.The Argentina captain said he has followed Yamal’s progress closely, especially since the teenager now plays for Barcelona, the club where Messi spent 21 years between 2000 and 2021.However, Messi will hope that the 19-year-old does not produce another memorable performance in the final.Messi said: “We will try to play a good match, but I hope he and his team do not play a good match.”Both players have history under their belt.Messi could become the first player to win two consecutive FIFA World Cups as captain, while Yamal could become the second-youngest player to start and win a World Cup final.Following their semi-final victory, defending champions Argentina and European champions Spain will meet in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday.
