Argentina captain Lionel Messi has described his upcoming FIFA World Cup final showdown with Spain star Lamine Yamal as “crazy” after an old photograph showing the Argentine superstar with the Spanish teenager as a baby resurfaced ahead of the highly anticipated final.
Argentina, the defending champions, will face European champions Spain on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in a match expected to feature one of football’s greatest legends against one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
The image that has captured global attention dates back to 2007, when a 20-year-old Messi participated in a charity photoshoot organised by Spanish newspaper Sport and UNICEF at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. During the event, Messi was photographed holding a five-month-old Yamal after the youngster’s family took part in a charity raffle.
Nearly two decades later, the two players are set to meet on football’s biggest stage, with Messi seeking another historic title and Yamal aiming to announce himself as the face of a new generation.
Speaking at a Fanatics Fest event in New York alongside NFL legend Tom Brady, Messi admitted the coincidence surrounding the photograph was difficult to believe.
“That picture with Lamine is incredible. Now we are facing each other in a final after a photo was taken of us when he was a baby, it’s just crazy,” Messi said.
Brady described the moment as “very prophetic,” as fans around the world continue to share the image ahead of the final.
Yamal, now 19, has enjoyed a remarkable rise since breaking into Barcelona’s first team from the club’s famous La Masia academy. The winger has since become one of Spain’s most influential players and helped the national team win Euro 2024.
The teenager also inherited Barcelona’s iconic number 10 shirt, previously worn by Messi, further adding to comparisons between the two players.
Despite praising Yamal’s ability, Messi said Argentina’s focus would be on stopping the young forward from influencing the final.
“He’s one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success,” Messi said. “We’ll try to keep him from playing at his best. Spain has a great team, not just him. He’s a tremendous player and a global star.”
The Argentine captain, however, stressed that his team would give everything to prevent Spain from lifting the trophy.
Argentina reached the final after defeating England 2-1 in the semi-final, with Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez scoring the goals that secured their place in the championship match.
Spain booked their final spot with a 2-0 victory over France, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro finding the net to seal their progression.
The final will present a historic opportunity for both players. Messi is aiming to lead Argentina to consecutive World Cup triumphs, while Yamal hopes to become one of the youngest players ever to start and win a World Cup final.
The meeting between the two stars has added another remarkable chapter to football’s history, transforming a forgotten charity photograph from 2007 into one of the biggest stories surrounding the 2026 World Cup final.