Messi to face Yamal in World Cup final at MetLife Stadium
Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Jul 15, 2026, 10:20 PM
Last updated Jul 15, 2026
Lionel Messi and Argentina will meet Lamine Yamal and Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on July 16 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The matchup marks nearly 20 years since the two first met during a charity photo shoot in which a young Yamal, then five months old, posed with Messi. Both players have since risen to prominence, with Messi enjoying a legendary career and Yamal making his mark as a key player for Spain after debuting for Barcelona at 15. The storied history between them adds an intriguing layer to the final as they compete for the World Cup title.
- •Messi and Yamal meet in 2026 World Cup final on July 16.
- •Their first meeting was during a charity photo shoot in 2007.
- •Yamal debuted for Barcelona at age 15 and joined Spain's national team.
- •Messi is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time.
- 9:10 AMYahoo Sports — Messi and Brady on 'prophetic' Lamine Yamal photos
- 11:29 AMYahoo Sports — World Cup destiny: Messi bathed Yamal as a baby, now they face off for soccer's top title
- 11:04 AMYahoo Sports — The remarkable photos of Lionel Messi and baby Lamine Yamal as pair prepare to clash in World Cup final
- 3:35 AMYahoo Sports — Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal go full circle after viral baby photo
- 10:40 PMYahoo Sports — 19-year-old picture emerges of a baby Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi as they prepare for FIFA World Cup final
- 10:20 PMYahoo Sports — Lionel Messi, a 5-month-old Lamine Yamal and the bathtub photo shoot linking 2 soccer superstars
"Almost two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn't think much of his photo shoot of a teenage Lionel Messi bathing a cute baby boy in a plastic bathtub. Not until the remarkable twist of fate became clear years later, when that infant blossomed into Lamine Yamal. Now those images of the longhaired Messi, his hands covered in soap suds as if anointing Yamal as soccer's Next Big Thing, have become the most talked about — and gawked about — in the runup to Sunday’s World Cup final, when Messi’s Argentina will play Yamal’s Spain for the biggest trophy in the sport.
"The prodigies of Barcelona past and present, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, will face off on Sunday in the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. After a dramatic late victory over England, Messi and Argentina have kept their back-to-back dream alive.
"Argentina have booked their place in the World Cup final against Spain with their 2-1 win against England, setting up a clash between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. Messi and Yamal will square off on the pitch for the first…
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 18, 2026, 9:10 AMMessi and Brady on 'prophetic' Lamine Yamal photos
Argentina's Lionel Messi says it is "crazy" to be facing Spain's Lamine Yamal in a World Cup final after being photographed with him as a baby.
- Yahoo SportsJul 17, 2026, 11:29 AMWorld Cup destiny: Messi bathed Yamal as a baby, now they face off for soccer's top title
Almost two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn't think much of his photo shoot of a teenage Lionel Messi bathing a cute baby boy in a plastic bathtub. Not until the remarkable twist of fate became clear years later, when that infant blossomed into Lamine Yamal. Now those images of the longhaired Messi, his hands covered in soap suds as if anointing Yamal as soccer's Next Big Thing, have become the most talked about — and gawked about — in the runup to Sunday’s World Cup final, when Messi’s Argentina will play Yamal’s Spain for the biggest trophy in the sport.
- Yahoo SportsJul 16, 2026, 11:04 AMThe remarkable photos of Lionel Messi and baby Lamine Yamal as pair prepare to clash in World Cup final
An infant Yamal was photographed alongside the man he succeeded as Barcelona’s star in 2007
- Yahoo SportsJul 16, 2026, 3:35 AMLionel Messi, Lamine Yamal go full circle after viral baby photo
Argentina have booked their place in the World Cup final against Spain with their 2-1 win against England, setting up a clash between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. Messi and Yamal will square off on the pitch for the first…
- Yahoo SportsJul 15, 2026, 10:40 PM19-year-old picture emerges of a baby Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi as they prepare for FIFA World Cup final
The prodigies of Barcelona past and present, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, will face off on Sunday in the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. After a dramatic late victory over England, Messi and Argentina have kept their back-to-back dream alive.
- Yahoo SportsJul 15, 2026, 10:20 PMLionel Messi, a 5-month-old Lamine Yamal and the bathtub photo shoot linking 2 soccer superstars
Messi and Argentina will play Yamal and Spain in Sunday's World Cup final nearly 20 years after their first photoshoot together.
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