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If your first thought upon seeing the now-viral photo of Lionel Messi bathing Lamine Yamal as a baby is how incredible it is that the two are playing against each other in Sunday’s World Cup final, you’re not alone; Messi shares this sentiment.
“This photo with Lamine, we’re now facing a finale after a photo 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 photo was taken by Relance photographer Joan Monfort during a charity promotional photo shoot almost two decades ago, when Messi was 20 and Yamal was a baby. Nearly 20 years later, the two men will face off on Sunday in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Messi’s Argentina and Yamal’s Spain at New Jersey Stadium in New York.
Messi shares great admiration for Yamal, who plays for FC Barcelona just like Messi did from 2000 to 2021, but he hopes he and his teammates can keep the 19-year-old superstar quiet for a night.
“Lamine is truly incredible,” Messi said. “I followed him a lot because he plays for a club that I love so much. He has a chance to achieve something historic, we will try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.”
Messi and Yamal are chasing history. Messi could become the first player to win back-to-back 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 their way? Each other.
“We will try to have a good match, but I hope he and his team don’t have a good one,” Messi said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final begins at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX one.
