'A global star': Lionel Messi delivers Lamine Yamal verdict ahead of World Cup final | OneFootball

Argentine superstar has also commented on viral photo of his first meeting with Lamine Yamal

Lionel Messi has said Lamine Yamal is one of the best players in the world ahead of an historic meeting between the pair.

Messi’s Argentina will take on Yamal and Spain in Sunday’s World Cup 2026 final, with this set to be the first time the two players have shared the same pitch at the same time.

The Spaniard is widely regarded as the heir to Messi given their similar playing styles and the fact he has inherited the Argentine’s No10 shirt at Barcelona, having previously worn No19 just like the 39-year-old.

"He's one of the best in the world right now," Messi said of Yamal at a fans' event on Friday.

"We'll try to keep him from playing at his best. Spain has a great team, not just him.

"He's a tremendous player - a global star. He's 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him. I wish him the best, but we'll give it our all to ensure he doesn't become champion this time."

Lamine Yamal has helped Spain reach the World Cup final

AFP/Getty

Remarkably, Messi and Yamal actually first met nearly two decades ago.

The photos, which show a then 20-year-old Messi holding baby Yamal in a blue bathtub in the away dressing room at the Camp Nou, first came to people’s attention in 2024, when Yamal’s dad posted them on social media ahead of the European Championship final between England and Spain.

Messi said: "That photo is incredible. The fact that we're both playing in the World Cup now is crazy."

Yamal, however, is facing a race against the clock to prove his fitness for Sunday’s World Cup final showdown with Argentina.

The Barcelona superstar has sparked concerns that he is not fully fit after not taking part in training in New Jersey on Thursday and wearing a bandage on his left thigh, having been seen limping after the semi-final win over France.