Messi and Yamal: A World Cup Final Showdown Rooted in a Shared Past
Lionel Messi of Argentina and Lamine Yamal of Spain are set to face each other in the World Cup final on Sunday, marking a significant moment for two players linked by a photograph taken nearly two decades ago. The image, captured in 2007, shows a young Messi with an infant Yamal during a charity photo shoot.
Messi, now 39, is participating in his sixth World Cup tournament, while Yamal, who recently turned 19, is playing in his first. Messi has achieved numerous records in the World Cup, including playing more games, scoring more goals, and providing more assists than any previous player. If Argentina secures a victory on Sunday, Messi would captain the first team in 64 years to win consecutive titles.
Yamal, who turned 19 last Monday, has already accumulated 56 goals and seven major trophies for his club and country. In comparison, Messi had 11 goals and four trophies at the same age. Yamal currently plays for Barcelona, the club where Messi spent 17 years of his career. Yamal leads his team in goals and assists across all competitions, and he received La Liga’s player of the year award this season. Last year, at 18, he finished second in the voting for the Ballon d’Or, an award Messi has won eight times.
The connection between the two players dates back to a photo shoot in September 2007. Messi, then a 20-year-old, posed with five-month-old Yamal. Yamal’s mother, Sheila, won a raffle that allowed her child to participate in a photo session for a fundraising calendar. The photo, featuring Messi helping Sheila bathe her son in a blue plastic tub, was part of a charity calendar benefiting UNICEF and was a collaboration with the FC Barcelona Foundation. Other notable players like Xavi Hernández, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Carles Puyol, and Samuel Eto’o also participated in the calendar.
The photographer, Joan Monfort, stated in 2024 that the calendar aimed to highlight social issues faced by children and families, particularly around Christmas, by showing humanity through interactions between the players and children. Monfort suggested the idea of photographing Messi bathing Yamal to encourage interaction between them. Yamal’s mother assisted during the photo session.
The image resurfaced after Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, posted it online in July 2024 with the caption, “The beginning of two legends.” Yamal’s teammate, Mikel Merino, commented on the photo, noting its surprising nature and how life can present such coincidences.
Paths to the Final
Messi has been instrumental in leading Argentina to its third World Cup final since 2014. He shares the tournament lead with eight goals and has contributed 12 goal contributions overall. Four of his goals either equalized the game or put Argentina ahead. In a recent semifinal victory against England, Messi provided assists for both the tying and winning goals within seven minutes.
Yamal, despite a quieter performance in the World Cup with one goal in seven games, has been part of a Spain team that has not lost a match he has played in, holding a record of 21-0-6. His career trajectory has been compared to Messi’s, as both emerged from FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy as left-footed forwards at a young age.
Yamal’s background includes parents from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea who moved to Catalonia. His paternal grandmother, Fatima, played a significant role in supporting his training. Yamal joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy at seven, while Messi entered the academy at 13. Yamal signed his first long-term contract 14 months ago, which could make him the team’s highest-paid player, and he now wears the No. 10 shirt previously worn by Messi.
Messi has praised Yamal, describing him as the best among the new generation of footballers. Yamal, in turn, has expressed his admiration for Messi, calling him the best player in history. While both share similarities, Yamal is noted for his speed and street-football flair, and he has been more prolific at the same age than Messi was. Yamal is also fluent in three languages and has been involved in political expressions, such as waving a Palestinian flag during a club parade.
Last month, Yamal became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, focusing on children’s rights and supporting those in humanitarian emergencies, continuing the charitable link established by the 2007 photo. The FIFA World Cup Final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET.
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Source: latimes.com
