ISTANBUL / Ahmed Hassan / Anadolu Agency

- Taken in 2007 during a charity tour for FC Barcelona, showing the Argentine star alongside the Spanish talent when he was an infant.

- Messi's statement comes ahead of the match between the two national teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Argentine football star Lionel Messi described an old photo of him with Spanish talent Lamine Yamal, when the latter was an infant, as "crazy thing", ahead of the match between the two national teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The photo was taken in December 2007, as part of a charity tour organized by the FC Barcelona Foundation in collaboration with the Catalan newspaper "Sport", during which a number of team players participated in a photo session alongside children, aiming to raise funds for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

In a press conference held on Friday in New York, ahead of the anticipated clash between "Albiceleste" and "La Roja" in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, Messi looked again at the photo taken with Yamal when he was a child.

According to The New York Times, the 8-time Ballon d'Or winner commented on the photo, saying: "This photo is crazy. It's rare in life to take a picture with a child and then face him later in the World Cup. Honestly, it's unbelievable."

He continued: "Lamine is a great player I follow closely because he plays for a club I love. No doubt he is one of the best players in the world right now, at age 19. I wish him all the best because that will also benefit Barcelona."

Messi concluded his remarks, saying: "Lamine still has a brilliant future ahead, and he has a great chance to achieve a historic feat. We will do our utmost to prevent him from doing so this time."

Lamine Yamal's father had posted the rare photo before the 2024 European Championship, showing Messi, then 20 years old, next to Yamal while he was being bathed, when he was only 5 months old.

Messi and Yamal will meet for the first time on the pitch, after the legendary Argentine forward, 39, left FC Barcelona in 2021, before the first professional appearance of the 19-year-old Spanish talent.

Messi, who has played in two World Cup finals with Argentina, winning in 2022 and losing to Germany in 2014, will play the tournament final for the third time against Spain.

As for Lamine Yamal, he will play in a World Cup final for the first time with his national team, which is playing in the tournament final for the second time after winning the title in 2010 in South Africa.

The clash between Argentina and Spain could be a special battle between Messi and Yamal, with the Ballon d'Or award approaching, especially given the veteran Argentine star's resurgence in this World Cup edition, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists.