Nineteen years ago, in July 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi (39) bathed a newborn Lamine Yamal (17). As the 2026 North American World Cup final approaches, who could have foreseen this touching image resurfacing? It’s an extraordinary connection.
Defending champions Argentina, propelled by Messi’s brilliance, are just one step away from clinching back-to-back titles.
On Thursday, Argentina edged out England 2-1 in the semifinals at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia. Despite conceding first, they staged a dramatic comeback with two late goals. Messi was the catalyst for this turnaround.
In the 80th minute, Messi drew in defenders before threading a pass to Enzo Fernandez at the edge of the box, who slotted home the equalizer. In the dying moments, Messi surprised everyone with a right-footed cross from the flank, setting up Martinez’s header for the winner.
With the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Messi’s stellar performance, Argentina has set the stage for a potential second straight World Cup triumph. Their final hurdle is Spain, who convincingly beat last year’s runners-up France 2-0. The clash between Messi and Yamal, representing the old guard and the new generation, has captivated fans worldwide.
The Messi-Yamal connection traces back to 2007. Yamal’s family won a charity event co-hosted by local paper Diario Sport and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), landing a calendar photoshoot. Messi, then with Barcelona, participated and was photographed bathing baby Yamal.
The photo resurfaced in 2024, shared by Yamal’s father, creating a media frenzy. Yamal explained his father had kept it under wraps, not wanting his son to be measured against Messi’s impossible standards.
He added that while anyone would be thrilled to have a connection with Messi, his dad worried it might put unfair pressure on him. Yet, as if blessed by soccer royalty, Yamal has showcased his own exceptional talent and rapid development.
Following Messi’s footsteps, Yamal rose through Barcelona’s youth ranks, debuting for the first team in 2023. He eventually inherited Messi’s iconic number 10, cementing his status as the team’s new talisman. His international career has been equally impressive. At Euro 2024, he became the youngest-ever player at 16 years and 338 days, helping Spain clinch the title and establishing himself as the next big thing in world soccer.
Fast forward to the 2026 North American World Cup, and Yamal has matured into Spain’s driving force, guiding them to the final. By a twist of fate, he now faces Messi on soccer’s grandest stage.
This historic showdown will determine whether Messi can cap off his illustrious career with a fairy-tale ending against one of his most promising successors, or if Yamal can dethrone the Argentine legend, marking a symbolic changing of the guard.
The highly anticipated North American World Cup final kicks off on July 19 at 3:00 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.