Argentina captain Lionel Messi has expressed his amazement at meeting Spain’s Lamine Yamal in the World Cup final, years after a chance encounter during a 2007 charity photoshoot. As a five-month-old infant, Yamal was held by a 20-year-old Messi after his parents won a contest at Barcelona. NFL icon Tom Brady described the resurfaced images as prophetic during a New York press event.
Messi praised the 19-year-old Yamal, who now wears his former number 10 jersey at Barcelona, calling him a world-class talent with a bright future. While wishing him well, Messi emphasized that Argentina is focused on neutralizing the Spanish star’s impact to secure victory. Yamal, who already helped Spain capture Euro 2024, now aims to become the youngest player to achieve a historic double of European and World Cup titles.
The event, hosted by Rio Ferdinand and Kevin Hart, featured appearances from global sports figures including Novak Djokovic and Kevin Durant. Tensions flared briefly when Tom Brady confronted Logan Paul, leading to an intervention by Karl-Anthony Towns. Meanwhile, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Spain manager Luis de la Fuente shared a moment of mutual respect, highlighting their long-standing connection from their shared coaching education in Spain.
