Lionel Messi told Tom Brady it is “insane” that he is about to face Lamine Yamal in Sunday’s World Cup final, and honestly, can anyone argue with that? It just blows your mind when you think about that now-viral photo of Messi bathing Yamal as an infant, and now they are squaring off on the biggest stage in soccer. Messi himself shares that exact sentiment, reeling from the realization that nearly two decades later, this is actually happening.
The Photo That Started It All
This whole wild story starts almost 20 years ago. Freelance photographer Joan Monfort captured that unforgettable image of a 20-year-old Messi with Yamal as an infant during a promotional charity photoshoot. Who could have ever predicted that moment, frozen in time, would lead to this unbelievable matchup? It is seriously wild to think about. That photo is not just a cool historical tidbit; it is now the backdrop to one of the most unexpected rivalries heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. You gotta wonder if anyone involved in that photoshoot had even the faintest idea they were capturing a future opponent.
Messi’s Respect, But Not This Time
Messi’s admiration for Lamine Yamal is pretty clear. “Lamine is truly amazing,” Messi said, adding that he has “followed him a lot because he plays for a club I love so much,” a nod to Yamal starring for FC Barcelona, just like Messi did for two decades. But all that respect goes out the window when the whistle blows in the final. Messi is dead set on keeping the 19-year-old superstar quiet for one night. Yamal has a “chance to achieve something historic,” Messi acknowledged, but he also firmly stated, “we’re going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.” It is the ultimate competitor speaking, right? Messi respects the talent, but he is coming for that trophy, and he is not letting Yamal stand in his way. He even said, “We’ll try to put on a good match, but I hope he and his team don’t put on a good one.” Talk about laying it all out there.
History On The Line
This is not just a regular final, either. Both Messi and Yamal are absolutely chasing history on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium. Messi has a chance to etch his name even deeper into the record books by becoming the first player ever to win back-to-back World Cup titles as a team captain. Think about that for a second. On the other side, Yamal could become the second-youngest player to win the World Cup final as a starter. So, it is not just about bragging rights; it is about legacies being forged or cemented. And the craziest part? The only thing standing in their way, the ultimate obstacle for each of them, is literally each other.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Messi’s Argentina and Yamal’s Spain kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX one. You do not want to miss this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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