Argentina and Spain Set to Meet in World Cup Final Featuring Messi and Yamal

Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are scheduled to face each other when Argentina meets Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday at New Jersey Stadium. Messi, 39, spoke about the matchup during an appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York on Friday. He recalled a photo taken with Yamal as a baby nearly 19 years earlier during a charity calendar shoot at Camp Nou produced by the newspaper Sport and UNICEF.

"Honestly, that photo is crazy because, well, in my life I took a picture with him when he was a baby, and today we are both facing in a World Cup," Messi said. The image was captured by photographer Joan Monfort. Messi praised the 19-year-old Yamal, who rose through Barcelona's youth ranks starting in 2014.

"He is one of the best in the world right now, without a doubt, and I wish him the best of luck because what’s good for him will also be good for Barcelona," Messi said. Messi added that he has followed Yamal closely. "Lamine is a fantastic player, whom I followed a lot because he plays for a club I love," he stated.

Yamal has scored one goal on 15 shots, created five chances and posted 86 percent passing accuracy in the tournament. Messi has recorded eight goals and four assists in the 2026 World Cup. He is tied with Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot and will appear in his third World Cup final after 2014 and 2022.

He became the tournament's all-time leading goal scorer with his 21st goal in June and holds records for most assists (10) and most matches won (20). "The photo has exploded all over the world, and the fact that the final is in the U.S.

Has given it an extra push," he told The Associated Press. Spain teammate Mikel Merino said the first time he saw the photo he thought it was AI-generated. Spain and Argentina had been scheduled to play in the Finalissima in Qatar in March, but that match was canceled due to conflict in the Middle East.

Messi won his first World Cup with Argentina in 2022.