Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will be another example of La Masia’s influence on world football, with Lionel Messi leading Argentina and several Barcelona players representing Spain.Laporta is in New York ahead of Sunday’s final at New York/New Jersey Stadium, where current and former Barcelona players will take part in both sides. The Spanish national team includes eight players from Barcelona, while Messi will captain Argentina.The Barcelona president said that the club’s academy will once again focus on the biggest stage in football. He added that seeing such a large number of La Masia graduates in the World Cup final reflects the success of the club’s youth system, regardless of who wins the cup.Laporta also spoke about the importance of seeing Messi and Lamin Yamal on opposite sides in the final. While he praised Messi’s contribution to Barcelona over the years, he described Yamal as a player who will take the club forward.“Messi also reached the final, and I am happy,” Laporta told RAC1. “He is the pride of La Masia. Messi is the past and present, and Lamine (Yamal) is the present and future.”
We are very happy that we have the real Barcelona style of play.“As president, I am proud of the development of these two players at home, and if we add Joan Garcia and Eric Garcia, [Pau] Koparsi, which delivers an amazing World Cup, [Dani] Olmo, Javi, Pedri, Ferran [Torres]… It’s amazing.”Barcelona will have a strong presence in the final, as academy graduates and first-team players will be spread throughout both teams.The title clash between Argentina and Spain will not only determine the next world champion, but will also provide another stage for La Masia products, from Messi to Yamal and Spain’s FC Barcelona, to make their mark on international football.
