Messi and Lamine Yamal to clash in 2026 World Cup final

A photograph taken in 2007 by photojournalist Joan Monfort shows a young Lionel Messi bathing infant Lamine Yamal during a UNICEF charity shoot. Monfort recalled, “20 years old was Messi…the baby was three months old,” and the image became one of the most‑shared sports pictures online.

Nineteen years later the two stars will meet on the field for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July. Both wear the number 19 – Messi wore it for Barcelona before switching to 10, and Yamal wears it for Spain – and each debuted in a World Cup at age 19 (Messi in 2006, Yamal in 2026). The match pits Argentina, led by the 39‑year‑old Messi, against Spain, whose 19‑year‑old forward Yamal has been a key figure despite a recent left‑thigh injury.

Coaches Lionel Scaloni and Luis de la Fuente, former mentor‑and‑student, will direct the teams, adding another layer of personal narrative to the historic final. The event is expected to draw a global audience, with the iconic photograph resurfacing in media coverage around the match.