The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played between Argentina and Spain. But there is a battle within the battle. It is between a legend and a young man who is destined to become one.
Yes, we speak of and . One is a 39-year-old aiming for a final blaze of glory, and the other is a 19-year-old rising star who is looking to rise even further.
Turning Back the Clock
But this is not their first meeting. Yes, they will face off as opponents on the pitch, but the first time Messi met Yamal was in 2007. Yes, 19 years ago. Of course, Yamal does not remember it because he was only a baby. Messi was 20 years old back then, the rising star along with and also Barcelona’s primary weapon.
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Lionel Messi’s First Meeting with Lamine Yamal
Messi took part in a UNICEF charity calendar photoshoot organised by the Catalan newspaper Diario Sport. It paired Barcelona players with local families, and in what can be called fate, Messi was asked to pose with a baby named Lamine Yamal. He bathed and held the baby for many photographs. He could not have imagined that he was holding a future star and never in his wildest dreams did he think he would take him on in a FIFA World Cup final.
World Left Stunned
The photos were more or less forgotten in the coming years. But in 2024, when Yamal helped Spain win the Euros, his father posted them on the social network. The pics went viral in no time and the world was shocked when it was learned that the baby being held by Messi was Spain and Barcelona’s newest star. Yamal had just turned 17 and was making his mark on the international and club stage.
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Lamine Yamal Is the Next Big Thing
Yamal has gone from strength to strength and now, at 19, he is breaking records for club and country. He has helped Spain enter the final and they are on the cusp of a 2nd World Cup title. He is football’s next global superstar, as was Messi 19 years ago when he held the little one in his arms.
Lionel Messi Can Do No Wrong
At the other end, Messi is proving age is just a number. At 39, the man is in the middle of a great World Cup run and is looking to end it on a high. He has set new records in the competition and is raising the bar with every game. Be it goals, leadership, strategy and assists, Messi is ruling the roost and can do no wrong.
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Lamine Yamal vs Lionel Messi
Yamal shall be facing off against the player he admires the most and Messi will be taking on the youngster who could replace him as the next big thing on the world stage. Messi is in the twilight of his career and may or may not be there during the 2030 World Cup. Yamal is expected to be around for another 15-20 years, fitness and form permitting.
Who Shall Triumph?
Who will triumph in this battle of greatness vs future greatness? Shall Messi win a 2nd straight title or will Yamal have his maiden crown. Argentina have won it in 1978, 1986 and 2022 while Spain’s only trophy came in 2010. One will be left standing when it is all over.