New Jersey to host World Cup final between Argentina and Spain
East Rutherford, N.J. – The upcoming World Cup final in East Rutherford, N.J., will feature a notable matchup between Argentina and Spain, highlighting two players with a unique shared history. Lionel Messi of Argentina and Lamine Yamal of Spain, who were once photographed together when Yamal was an infant, are set to compete for the championship.
The match on Sunday will mark Messi’s sixth tournament appearance and Yamal’s first. Messi, at 39, has played numerous games, scored many goals, and provided multiple assists in World Cup history. If Argentina secures a victory, Messi would captain a team to consecutive titles, a feat not achieved in 64 years.
Yamal, who recently turned 19, has already achieved significant milestones in his career, including 56 goals and seven major trophies for his club and country. In contrast, Messi had 11 goals and four trophies at the same age. Yamal’s journey through FC Barcelona‘s academy, La Masia, mirrors Messi’s early career path, as both are left-footed forwards who began playing at a young age.
A Shared History Captured in a Photograph
The connection between Messi and Yamal dates back to a photo shoot in 2007. At the time, Messi was a 20-year-old player for Barcelona, and Yamal was a five-month-old infant. The photo opportunity arose after Yamal’s mother, Sheila, won a raffle. The image, taken by Joan Monfort, depicted Messi assisting Sheila in bathing her son in a blue plastic tub. This photograph was part of a charity calendar for UNICEF, launched in 2008, with proceeds supporting children’s rights projects.
The image, which went largely unnoticed for years, gained widespread attention after Yamal helped Spain win the 2024 European Championship. Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, later shared the picture online, captioning it, “The beginning of two legends.” Yamal’s teammate, Mikel Merino, expressed surprise upon seeing the photo, initially thinking it might be AI-generated, highlighting the unusual coincidence of their shared past.
The photographer, Monfort, stated in 2024 that the idea for the photo of Messi bathing baby Yamal was his, aiming to show interaction and humanity between the players and children for the calendar. Other notable players like Xavi Hernández, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Carles Puyol, and Samuel Eto’o also participated in the calendar.
Current Form and Future Prospects
Messi has been instrumental in leading Argentina to its third World Cup final since 2014. He shares the tournament lead with eight goals and has contributed to 12 goals overall. In a recent semifinal victory against England, Messi provided assists for both the tying and winning goals within seven minutes. He is expected to receive his third Golden Ball award, an honor he has previously won twice.
Yamal currently plays for Barcelona, the club where Messi spent 17 years. Yamal has emerged as a significant left-footed playmaker, leading his team in goals with 24 and assists with 17 across all competitions. He also received La Liga‘s player of the year award this season. Last year, at 18, he placed second in the voting for the Ballon d’Or, an award Messi has won eight times.
Despite a quieter performance in the current World Cup with one goal in seven games, Spain has maintained an undefeated record in matches where Yamal has played, with 21 wins and six draws. Yamal’s parents, originally from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea, moved to Catalonia. His paternal grandmother, Fatima, played a crucial role in supporting his training at Barcelona‘s La Masia academy, which he joined at seven years old. When Yamal signed his first long-term contract 14 months ago, he was given the No. 10 shirt, previously worn by Messi.
Messi has acknowledged Yamal’s talent, stating, “If I have to choose one because of age, for what he has done so far and for the future he may have, it is Lamine.” Yamal, in turn, has praised Messi, calling him “the best player in history.”
Beyond their football careers, Yamal has also become a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, focusing on children’s rights and supporting those in humanitarian crises. The FIFA World Cup Final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET at New York-New Jersey Stadium.
Read Also
Source: latimes.com
