Messi on World Cup Final: 'Facing Lamine Yamal is Madness'
Lionel Messi reflects on his upcoming World Cup final against Lamine Yamal, the boy from their iconic 2007 photo shoot.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has shared his thoughts ahead of the World Cup final against Spain. The match holds special significance due to his showdown with 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, with whom the Argentine shares a unique history. In 2007, during a charity photo shoot in Barcelona, a 20-year-old Messi was photographed holding a five-month-old Yamal.
"That photo is incredible. The fact that we are both playing in the World Cup now is simply madness," Messi commented during a press conference in New York. The legendary forward did not hold back his praise for the young star, labeling him one of the best in the world.
He is one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck, because his success is also Barcelona's success. He is an incredible player, a global star. I wish him all the best, but we will do everything possible so that he doesn't become the champion this time. Lionel Messi
For Yamal, who has already won Euro 2024, this final offers a chance to become the youngest player ever to win both the European Championship and the World Cup. Beyond the football narrative, the event featured appearances from stars like Novak Djokovic and Kevin Durant, though it was briefly disrupted by an altercation between Tom Brady and Logan Paul.