For anyone who did a double take at the viral image of Lionel Messi bathing a baby Lamine Yamal — then realized the two are now set to meet in Sunday’s World Cup final — Messi understands the disbelief. The Argentina legend is just as struck by the full-circle nature of the moment.
“That picture with Lamine, now we are facing in a final after a photo was taken of when he was a baby,” Messi said Friday while speaking with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest. “It’s just insane.”
The now-famous photograph was captured by freelance photographer Joan Monfort during a charity promotional shoot nearly 20 years ago. At the time, Messi was a 20-year-old rising star, while Yamal was only an infant. On Sunday, that unlikely snapshot becomes part of a much bigger story when Messi’s Argentina faces Yamal’s Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Messi has made no secret of his respect for Yamal, who now shines for FC Barcelona, the same club where Messi built his legendary career from 2000 to 2021. Still, admiration will have limits once the whistle blows, with Messi hoping Argentina can contain the 19-year-old Spanish sensation on the biggest stage in world soccer.
“Lamine is truly amazing,” Messi said. “I’ve followed him a lot because he plays for a club I love so much. He has a chance to achieve something historic — we’re going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.”
History is within reach for both players in the 2026 World Cup final. Messi is aiming to become the first captain ever to lift consecutive World Cup trophies, while Yamal could become the second-youngest starter to win a World Cup final. To get there, each will have to deny the other.
“We’ll try to put on a good match, but I hope he and his team don’t put on a good one,” Messi said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled to kick off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on FOX and FOX One.
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