Lionel Messi has praised Spain teenager Lamine Yamal ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals but made it clear that Argentina will do everything in their power to stop making history.The defending champions face European champions Spain on Sunday at New York’s New Jersey Stadium, with Yamal looking to add another milestone to his growing career. Messi acknowledged the youngster’s rise but said the most important thing for Argentina is to ensure that the big moment does not come at their expense.“Lamine is amazing,” Messi said. “I’ve followed him a lot because he plays for my favorite team. He has a chance to make history – we’ll try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.”Messi spoke with seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest on Friday, where he reflected on one of the most talked about images in football in recent days.The photo, taken nearly two decades ago, shows 20-year-old Messi bathing baby Yamal during a charity photo shoot in Barcelona. The picture is set to play out again in Sunday’s final as the pair meet again on football’s biggest stage.“That picture is Lamine, now we are looking at the last one after the picture taken when he was a baby,” Messi said. “He’s just crazy.”The photo was taken by freelance photographer Joan Monfort, who admitted that she had not thought about its meaning when she clicked it.Almost two decades ago, Monfort photographed a young Messi bathing a small child in a plastic bathtub during a photo shoot for a charity calendar. A few years later, that child grew up to become the Spanish star Lamine Yamal.Now the photos have become one of the biggest talking points ahead of the World Cup final between Argentina’s Messi and Spain’s Yamal.“I have never been a believer or thought that anything should happen, but I have started to doubt. This doesn’t make sense,” Monfort told The Associated Press at his home in Barcelona on Friday.While the photo caught the attention of football fans, Messi’s focus is on Sunday’s final.The Argentinian captain said he was following Yamal’s progress, especially because the youngster now plays for Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​$$$$, 21 years between 2000 and 2021.Messi, however, hopes the 19-year-old doesn’t produce another memorable performance in the final.“We will try to make a good game, but I hope that he and his team will not be good,” Messi said.All of these players have access records.Messi could become the first player to win back-to-back FIFA World Cup responsibilities as captain, while Yamal could become the second young player to start and win a World Cup final.Following their back-to-back victories, defending champions Argentina and European champions Spain will meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday.
