Yamal opens up after being compared to Messi ahead of Spain vs. Argentina World Cup 2026 final.
On 19 July 2026, Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old star winger of Spain's national team, spoke before facing Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old Argentine superstar, in the World Cup 2026 final scheduled for tonight at 2:00 a.m. on 20 July Thai time.
Fate has brought them to face each other in the World Cup 2026 final after Lionel Messi once bathed 4-month-old Lamine Yamal for a calendar photo shoot in 2007, part of a project by the Barcelona Foundation in collaboration with Diario Sport newspaper and UNICEF.
Lionel Messi admitted he was amazed by the story, almost as if scripted, to face off against the baby he once bathed in the now-viral photo before this World Cup final. He wished Lamine Yamal success—but not in this World Cup 2026 final.
Recently, Lamine Yamal opened up about Lionel Messi, the senior player whose career path he has followed, having grown up in Barcelona's La Masia youth academy before joining the first team and wearing the number 10 jersey like Messi.
However, Lamine Yamal candidly addressed being compared to Lionel Messi: "We definitely share many similarities, and that is a good thing.
He has created his own legend, and I hope to achieve success in my career just like him. More importantly, I want to play football in my own style, to create my own story, and make people remember the name ‘Lamine Yamal.’"
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