Argentina captain Lionel Messi has described the viral photograph of himself bathing a young Lamine Yamal as “incredible” on the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
The iconic image, captured during a UNICEF photoshoot in Catalonia when Messi was at Barcelona, recently resurfaced and went viral after the Spanish wonderkid made his meteoric rise to the world stage.
Reflecting on the coincidence of facing Yamal in a World Cup final years after their initial encounter, Messi admitted to feeling the surreal nature of the moment.
“That picture with Lamine is incredible,” Messi said. “Now we are facing each other in a final after a photo was taken of us when he was a baby, it’s just crazy.”
Despite his admiration for the youngster, the Argentine legend remains focused on the task of defending his country’s title.
“We’ll try to put on a good match, but I hope he and his team don’t put on a good one,” he added. The Inter Miami captain lauded Yamal’s current form, acknowledging him as one of the best players in the world today.
“He’s one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success, but we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best.”
Messi emphasized that Argentina is well-prepared to face a formidable Spanish side, noting, “Spain has a great team, not just him. We have our own weapons too.”
The final, scheduled for Sunday at the New Jersey stadium, carries high stakes for both nations.
Argentina is aiming to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup title, while Spain is pursuing their second-ever World Cup trophy.
