Lamine Yamal’s life intertwined with Lionel Messi in a unique way. At only five months old, he was photographed with a young Messi, thanks to a collaboration between the Barcelona foundation and Diario Sport for a UNICEF charity calendar in December 2007. The now-famous photograph, featuring Messi and baby Yamal, was taken by Joan Monfort.
Messi, who has since established his legacy in football, is now 39. Yamal, at 19, has followed Messi’s path to Barcelona. The two will face each other for the first time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, this Sunday, July 19. The match has garnered significant attention, partly due to the photograph going viral.
During an interview at Fanatics Fest on July 17, Tom Brady asked Messi about that very photo. Messi praised Yamal, calling him a significant player. “Lamine is a huge player I have followed closely, as he plays for a club dear to me. I wish him the best,” Messi stated. He acknowledged Yamal as a global leader in football at such a young age, with the potential to make history. However, Messi emphasized Argentina’s commitment to excelling in the match.
Reflecting on the iconic photograph, Messi remarked, “That photo is crazy because, well, it’s life. To now face him in a World Cup is surreal. But he’s one of the best, and I wish him well since his success benefits Barcelona too.”
This World Cup final marks Messi’s third attempt at the title. He experienced defeat against Germany in 2014 and triumphed over France in 2022. Yamal, in contrast, reaches the final during his first World Cup with Spain. In the tournament, Messi has become the top World Cup goalscorer with 21 goals and leads in assists with 12. Yamal, while scoring one goal, has made significant impacts in his performances.
The Argentine team aims to become the first to secure consecutive World Cup victories since Brazil achieved this in 1958 and 1962. Meanwhile, Spain, represented by La Roja, seeks its first men’s World Cup title since 2010.
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