NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
If your first thought when you see the now-viral photo of Lionel Messi bathing Lamine Yamal as an infant is how incredible it is that the two will be playing each other in Sunday’s World Cup final, you’re not alone; Messi shares the sentiment.
“That picture with Lamine, now we’re in a final after a picture was taken when he was a baby,” Messi told seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest on Friday. “It’s just crazy.”
The image was taken by Relance photographer Joan Monfort during a promotional charity photo shoot nearly two decades ago, when Messi was 20 years old and Yamal was an infant. Almost 20 years later, the two will meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Messi’s Argentina and Yamal’s Spain on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Messi shares great admiration for Yamal, who plays for FC Barcelona just as Messi did from 2000 to 2021, but he hopes he and his team-mates can keep the 19-year-old superstar quiet for a night.
“Lamine is really great,” Messi said. “I have followed him a lot because he plays for a club I love so much. He has a chance to achieve something historic – we will try to make sure it doesn’t happen this time.”
Both Messi and Yamal are chasing history. Messi could become the first player to win World Cup titles as team captain, while Yamal could become the second-youngest player to win the World Cup final as a starter. The only thing standing in the way? each other.
“We will try to play a good game, but I hope that he and his team do not play a good game,” Messi said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final starts at 15 ET on FOX and FOX one.
