Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, described a nostalgic photo of himself bathing Lamine Yamal in 2007 as “incredible.” With the 2026 World Cup final approaching this Sunday, Messi took a moment to praise the young Spanish winger.
“That photo is incredible,” Messi remarked on Friday. “I took a picture with him when he was just a baby. It’s amazing that we are both playing in the World Cup now.”
The memorable image was part of a charity calendar produced at the FC Barcelona stadium by the local newspaper Sport in collaboration with UNICEF. In an unforeseen twist of fate, Yamal, who would rise to prominence as a Barcelona player 16 years later, was paired with the Argentine superstar for one of the calendar’s photos.
The story has come full circle, culminating in Sunday’s World Cup final where the 19-year-old Yamal will face off against the 39-year-old Messi for the first time on the international stage.
“He’s one of the best players in the world right now,” Messi stated at FIFA’s Fanatics Fest in New York. “I wish him all the best because his achievements reflect on Barcelona. However, we will aim to prevent him from playing at his best. Spain has a strong team beyond just him, and we have our strengths too.”
“He’s an exceptional player … a global star,” Messi continued. “At just 19, he has a bright future ahead. I wish him success, but we’ll do everything in our power to make sure he doesn’t win this time.”
Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the iconic images, shared that interest in his work has surged.
“The photo has gained international attention, and with the final being held in the U.S., it’s seen a significant boost,” Monfort told The Associated Press. “Now, everything has culminated with a final featuring Messi and Yamal. It’s more exciting than any movie script.”
Yamal’s Spain teammate, Mikel Merino, expressed a similar astonishment when he first saw the photograph.
“At first, I thought it was AI-generated and not real,” Merino said on Friday.
“It’s unbelievable that two of the greatest players in history have a shared photo like that. Hopefully, we’ll witness a fantastic final with both of them at their peak, providing a thrilling spectacle for the fans.”
Messi, who has scored eight goals and provided four assists so far, is gearing up for his third World Cup final, previously reaching this stage in 2014 and 2022. He is currently tied with Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot in the 2026 tournament, as Argentina aims to secure back-to-back championships.
Originally, Spain and Argentina were supposed to face each other in the Finalissima ahead of the World Cup, but the match scheduled for March in Qatar was canceled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.