Accra: Argentina captain Lionel Messi expressed his disbelief at the coincidence of facing Spain's Lamine Yamal in the upcoming World Cup final, having been photographed with him as a baby. In 2007, Yamal's parents won a charity photoshoot at Barcelona, where a then 20-year-old Messi held their five-month-old son. NFL legend Tom Brady, speaking with Messi during a news conference in New York, remarked on the photos as being "very prophetic."
According to Ghana Web, Messi described the situation as incredible, noting the surreal nature of both he and Yamal competing in the World Cup. Yamal, who made his debut for Barcelona at the age of 15 and now wears the iconic number 10 shirt once donned by Messi, has already made significant strides in his career. By the age of 19, he has helped Spain clinch the Euro 2024 title and now stands a chance to become the youngest player to win both the European Championships and the World Cup.
"He's one of the best in the world right now," said the 39-year-old Messi. Despite wishing Yamal luck, Messi emphasized the challenge that lies ahead, acknowledging Spain's strong team. "We'll try to keep him from playing at his best," Messi stated, highlighting the formidable task Argentina faces in the final.
The news conference was part of a fans' event, also attended by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Spain captain Rodri. The event saw former England defender Rio Ferdinand and actor Kevin Hart as hosts, with tennis legend Novak Djokovic and NBA star Kevin Durant joining Brady in posing questions. An unexpected moment unfolded when Brady continued his feud with Logan Paul on stage, culminating in a physical altercation that was broken up by New York Knicks player Karl-Anthony Towns.