As the World Cup 2026 final draws near, Lionel Messi has shared his thoughts on a nostalgic photo taken with Lamine Yamal, a rising star of the Spanish national team, nearly two decades ago. During the Fanatics Fest event in New York on July 17, Messi reminisced about the moment captured in 2007 when he was just 20 years old, while Yamal was a young child randomly selected for a charity calendar shoot at Camp Nou.

Messi described the photo as "very beautiful" and expressed his amazement at the prospect of facing Yamal in the World Cup final. "It’s incredible to think that we will be competing against each other after all these years," he stated. Yamal, now 19, is recognized as one of the best players in the world, and Messi wished him luck, noting that Yamal's success is also a reflection of Barcelona's achievements.

"Spain is a strong team, but we will do our best to stop him and use our own strengths," Messi added, highlighting the competitive spirit that will characterize their upcoming match. The photo, which has resurfaced on social media in light of the final, has captivated fans globally, with photographer Joan Monfort commenting on its renewed significance as the match approaches.

Midfielder Mikel Merino, Yamal's teammate, humorously remarked that he initially thought the photo was a product of artificial intelligence, given the remarkable coincidence of two outstanding players appearing together in one image.

Messi is set to participate in his third World Cup final, following his appearances in 2014 and 2022. This year, he has scored eight goals and provided four assists, tying with Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot race as Argentina aims to defend their title. Yamal, who has emerged from Barcelona's La Masia academy, is often compared to Messi for his dribbling skills and attacking prowess. Teammate Gavi has praised him, stating, "After Lionel Messi, he is our best player." The anticipation for the final continues to grow as fans eagerly await this historic matchup.