Barcelona star waxes lyrical about Lionel Messi ahead of World Cup final showdown | OneFootball

Dani Olmo is preparing for the biggest match of his career, and waiting on the other side of the World Cup final is the player he once idolised as a child: Lionel Messi.

The FC Barcelona midfielder will face Argentina with Spain on Sunday, completing a remarkable personal circle after growing up watching Messi and later seeing the Argentine become one of the defining figures of his football education.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Olmo was full of admiration when asked about Messi’s performances at the tournament and the challenge Spain will face.

He said:

“Messi is having a spectacular World Cup. There is no doubt about the player he has been or the player he still is.”

Olmo also made clear that Spain cannot afford to treat Messi differently from the rest of Argentina’s biggest threats. He explained:

“He is a player to keep in mind and we have played against him the same way as against everyone else.”

There is also a personal dimension to the final. An old photograph of Olmo as a child in the stands with Messi has resurfaced ahead of the match, underlining just how unusual this moment is.

Olmo recalled:

“It was at Castelldefels’ ground, yes. My father coached there. Life takes many turns to end up meeting in a World Cup final.”

Admiration stops when the final begins

Despite admitting that Messi was one of his childhood idols, Olmo insisted that sentiment will disappear once the match starts.

He said:

“Just reaching a World Cup final is something incredible. Playing it against Messi can give you more motivation or not, but in the end it is the same.”

The message that followed was even clearer.

“You have to beat the best in the world. Messi is one of them and we have to face him in the final. So we are going to win.”

For Barcelona supporters, the scene carries obvious emotion. One current Blaugrana star will be trying to stop the greatest player in the club’s history from lifting another World Cup.

Olmo’s admiration is genuine, but his mentality is exactly what Barca fans will want to hear. Messi remains an idol. On Sunday, though, he becomes the opponent.