Messi Targets History as Teenage Star Yamal Eyes World Cup Glory
Lionel Messi is set to make history on Sunday when Argentina take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. At 39, the Argentine captain will become the oldest outfield player ever to feature in a World Cup final, while Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal hopes to cement his place among football’s youngest world champions.
The highly anticipated clash also marks the first senior meeting between Messi and Yamal, the Barcelona academy graduate widely regarded as the legendary forward’s successor at the Catalan club.
Only Italy’s legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff, who played in the 1982 World Cup final at the age of 40, has appeared in a final at an older age than Messi.
For Yamal, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. The Spanish winger celebrated his 19th birthday just days before helping Spain secure a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals.
His rapid rise began when he made his Barcelona debut at only 15 years old. By 16, he had already earned his first senior cap for Spain, and at 17, he played a key role in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph over England, finishing the tournament as the Best Young Player.
After finishing second behind Ousmane Dembélé in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting, Yamal now has the chance to join the exclusive list of teenagers who have lifted the FIFA World Cup.
Speaking ahead of the final, Messi praised the youngster’s incredible talent while making it clear that Argentina will do everything possible to stop him.
“He is a global icon at the age of 19 and has the chance to do something historic, although we will be doing everything to stop him,” Messi said.
Yamal’s participation in the tournament was far from guaranteed after suffering an injury that ruled him out of the closing stages of Barcelona’s season. The young star admitted he feared missing the World Cup entirely.
Spain eased him back into action, using him as a substitute in their goalless draw against Cape Verde before limiting his minutes against Saudi Arabia. Since then, he has started every match and remains one of Spain’s biggest attacking threats heading into the final.
At just 19 years and six days old, Yamal will become the third-youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup final. Only Brazilian legend Pelé, who starred in the 1958 final at 17, and Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi, who played in the 1982 final at 18, were younger.
History also shows that only eight teenagers have ever won the FIFA World Cup, while Pelé and Kylian Mbappé remain the only players to score in a World Cup final before turning 20.
Spain will hope Yamal can follow in those footsteps, while Argentina look to Messi’s experience as he aims to lift football’s biggest prize for a second time.
Adding another layer of intrigue to Sunday’s showdown is a memorable photograph taken nearly two decades ago, showing a young Messi bathing a five-month-old Yamal during a UNICEF charity photoshoot.
Reflecting on the image, Messi simply described it as “incredible.”
The World Cup final promises to deliver a symbolic battle between one of football’s greatest legends and the sport’s brightest young star, with history waiting for whichever side emerges victorious.
