Lamine Yamal has revealed the emotional conversation he had with Lionel Messi immediately after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where Spain defeated Argentina.
For the Barcelona sensation, the words of the Argentine legend were priceless—almost as meaningful as the gold medal he won with Spain.
Following Spain’s historic triumph in the final in New York, Yamal and Messi were seen talking on the pitch for a few moments.
Speaking about that encounter, the 19-year-old revealed the message he received from the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, according to Goal, as reported by Gazeta Express.
“He told me to keep following my path and that the future belongs to our generation. Those words mean as much to me as the gold medal I wear around my neck,” Yamal said.
Despite defeating Messi in the World Cup final, Yamal stressed that his admiration for the Argentine icon remains unchanged.
“He is someone I have always admired. After the match, I went over to him to show my respect,” the Barcelona star added.
Although Argentina lost the final, Messi enjoyed an outstanding tournament, finishing the World Cup with eight goals and four assists in eight matches.
Before the final, the Argentine captain had spoken highly of Yamal:
“He is an extraordinary footballer, a global superstar. He is only 19 years old and has his entire career ahead of him,” Messi had said.
The connection between the two players dates back to 2007, when, during a UNICEF charity photo shoot, a 20-year-old Messi was photographed holding and bathing a five-month-old Lamine Yamal.
That photograph has since become iconic, and nearly two decades later, the two faced each other as rivals in the FIFA World Cup final, in what became a symbolic passing of the torch between two generations of football.