Remarkable Coincidence Leads to World Cup Final Encounter
Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are set to face each other in the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, a meeting that comes years after a notable charity photoshoot. In December 2007, a 20-year-old Messi was photographed bathing a five-month-old Yamal as part of a charity calendar for Barcelona, in partnership with UNICEF and Diario Sport. This image has recently resurfaced, highlighting the extraordinary coincidence of their upcoming match.
Messi, now 39, expressed his thoughts on the photo, calling it “crazy” that they are now facing off in a World Cup final. He acknowledged Yamal as a significant talent, stating he has followed his career due to his connection with Barcelona. Messi described Yamal as one of the world’s benchmark players at 19 years old, with a promising career ahead.
The probability of this scenario, from the initial photoshoot to their current encounter in a World Cup final, has been a topic of discussion on social media, with some estimates suggesting it is incredibly unlikely. The photos gained renewed attention during the European Championship of 2024 after Yamal‘s father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared them online.
A Look at Their Careers and Connections
The photographer, Joan Monfort, recounted the difficulty of capturing the original image in 2007, noting Messi‘s shyness and the challenge of posing with a baby in a bath. He mentioned that at the time, no one could have predicted the future prominence of either player. Monfort emphasized the role of destiny in such events, comparing the chances of this happening to winning the lottery.
Despite the initial encounter, Messi and Yamal have not met frequently since. Messi moved from Rosario, Argentina, to join Barcelona‘s La Masia youth academy at 13, eventually scoring 709 goals in 837 games for the first team before his departure in 2021. Yamal, born in Barcelona and raised in Mataro, joined Barcelona‘s youth system at six and moved into the academy permanently at 12.
One photo shows Yamal and Messi, now with Inter Miami, together around the time Yamal was emerging, a chance meeting near the training ground. However, they are not believed to have met since. Sources close to both players indicated that this lack of regular interaction is not unusual given their busy schedules and the fact they live on different continents.
When Yamal‘s talent became apparent, Adidas sought to sponsor him, which included a video message from Messi, who was already associated with the kit manufacturer. Despite this, a physical meeting did not occur. Circumstances have also prevented them from coinciding at major football awards ceremonies.
Yamal did meet former Barcelona star Neymar at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai in December 2024, forming an instant connection. Neymar, who played for Barcelona from 2013 to 2017, was Yamal‘s favourite player growing up. They have maintained regular contact, with Yamal spending time at Neymar‘s personal resort in Rio de Janeiro during his holidays. Some suggest Yamal‘s personality aligns more with the extroverted Neymar than the reserved Messi.
A planned Finalissima exhibition game in Qatar between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina was cancelled due to conflict, preventing an earlier meeting between Messi and Yamal. The FIFA seeding system for the World Cup also meant that Spain and Argentina could only meet in the final if both teams topped their respective groups.
When Yamal was given Barcelona‘s No. 10 shirt in July of the previous year, there was no collaboration with Messi. This is partly attributed to Messi‘s complex relationship with Barcelona‘s leadership following his 2021 departure. The No. 10 shirt had previously been worn by Ansu Fati for two seasons after Messi‘s exit. Yamal‘s performances wearing the iconic number have been notable, with 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 games for Barcelona in the past club season.
Comparing Early Career Achievements
Both Lamine Yamal and Messi turned 19 during their first World Cup appearances. Yamal, who turned 19 on July 13, the day before Spain‘s semifinal win over France, has had a quicker start in terms of club and international goals before his 19th birthday compared to Messi at the same age. Yamal had 30 club goals and seven international goals, while Messi had nine combined goals at that point, with fewer appearances. Yamal became the ninth-youngest player in World Cup history to score a goal when he scored against Saudi Arabia, being 14 days younger than Messi when he achieved the same feat.
In terms of honours, Yamal has secured three La Liga titles, a Euro 2024 title, one Copa del Rey title, and was named La Liga Best Player. He also has a World Cup final appearance. Messi, at 19, had two La Liga titles and a 2006 UEFA Champions League title. Yamal‘s early career includes winning Euro 2024 with Spain and receiving La Liga Best Player honours, while Messi won a UEFA Champions League title with Barcelona just before his 19th birthday.
Messi, who turned 39 on June 24, was born more than 20 years before Yamal, with the Argentina legend born in 1987 and the Spanish phenom born in 2007. Messi has scored eight goals in the current World Cup, while Yamal has scored one. Messi would become the second-oldest player to win the World Cup if Argentina defeats Spain in the final.
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Source: ca.sports.yahoo.com
