Neither France nor England envisioned ending their World Cup campaign in the third-place playoff, but Saturday’s bronze-medal match in Miami still offers meaningful storylines, with Didier Deschamps coaching France for the final time and Kylian Mbappe chasing another place in tournament history.

Both European powers arrive after painful semifinal defeats that ended their hopes of lifting the trophy.

France were outclassed 2-0 by Spain, while England surrendered an early lead in a 2-1 loss to defending champions Argentina, leaving two disappointed squads to compete for a bronze medal that rarely eases the sting of missing the final.

For France, the occasion marks the end of one of the most successful managerial eras in international football.

Deschamps will take charge of Les Bleus for the last time after 14 years in charge, a reign highlighted by the 2018 World Cup title, a runners-up finish in 2022 and three consecutive World Cup semifinal appearances.

The 57-year-old had hoped to depart with another shot at the championship, but instead will look to leave with one final victory.

His farewell comes days after a disappointing tactical display against Spain. Deschamps had publicly labeled the Spaniards as favorites before the semifinal, and La Roja justified that status with a composed performance that neutralized France’s attack.

A first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a superb finish by Pedro Porro secured Spain’s place in Sunday’s final against Argentina, while France managed just 0.31 expected goals and rarely threatened throughout the contest.

The defeat sparked widespread criticism of France’s cautious approach, with captain Mbappe among those questioning the team’s tactics after the match. Although Deschamps left an extraordinary legacy that includes becoming the coach with the most World Cup matches managed, his final tournament ended with frustration rather than another appearance on football’s biggest stage.

France now seek a third World Cup bronze medal after previous third-place finishes in 1958 and 1986. Their only defeat in a third-place playoff came against Poland in 1982.

England are attempting to recover from another agonizing semifinal exit that has reignited familiar questions about their ability to overcome elite opposition in major tournaments.

Thomas Tuchel’s side made an encouraging start against Argentina, taking the lead through Anthony Gordon after exploiting space on the flanks. But the decision to retreat and protect the advantage ultimately backfired as Lionel Messi orchestrated Argentina’s comeback with assists for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.

The defeat continued England’s struggles against the world’s top teams. The Three Lions have now lost all seven of their World Cup knockout matches against opponents ranked inside FIFA’s top 10 and became the first team this century to twice surrender a lead in a World Cup semifinal after also doing so against Croatia in 2018.

Tuchel has also faced criticism for his tactical decisions, despite guiding England to one of their deepest tournament runs in recent memory. Saturday offers an opportunity to secure England’s best World Cup finish since 1966, although the consolation prize is unlikely to satisfy a team that believed it could challenge for the title.

England have never won a World Cup third-place playoff, losing to Italy in 1990 and Belgium in 2018. They also enter the match having won just one of their last nine meetings with France, including a quarterfinal defeat at the 2022 World Cup.

Both coaches are expected to rotate heavily after physically and emotionally demanding campaigns through the expanded 48-team tournament.

France’s biggest concern centers on William Saliba, who left the Spain match in the first half because of a recurring back problem. The Arsenal defender is expected to miss Saturday’s game, opening the door for Maxence Lacroix to start in central defense.

Deschamps could also make further changes at the back after previously favoring Lacroix over Ibrahima Konate because of tactical considerations, while backup goalkeeper Brice Samba missed training following the semifinal defeat but is not expected to force a change in goal.

England are also dealing with defensive injuries after Reece James suffered a muscular problem against Argentina shortly after returning from a hamstring injury.

Jarell Quansah is available again after serving a two-match suspension and could come into the starting lineup, while Djed Spence is expected to switch flanks to accommodate further defensive adjustments. Jordan Henderson remains unavailable with a wrist injury.

There is also uncertainty surrounding Jude Bellingham after television cameras appeared to capture the midfielder striking Argentina’s Valentin Barco on the back of the head during post-match celebrations, raising the possibility of disciplinary action.

Despite the disappointment surrounding the fixture, France still have individual milestones to pursue.

Mbappe enters the match with eight goals at this World Cup and 20 overall in the competition, putting him firmly in contention for the Golden Boot while moving him closer to the tournament’s all-time scoring record.

With less tactical pressure than a final and little left to lose, the bronze-medal match could provide the France captain with one last opportunity to cap another outstanding World Cup campaign with a historic achievement.

For England, the match offers fringe players a final chance to impress before qualifying for the next major tournament begins. For France, it is an opportunity to give one of the country’s greatest coaches a winning farewell.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup comes down to a meeting worthy of football’s biggest stage.

Defending champions Argentina will face European champions Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, with Lionel Messi bidding to lead La Albiceleste to consecutive titles while Spain’s young stars attempt to usher in a new era by reclaiming the sport’s biggest prize.

Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. ET) in the championship match of the first 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It is only the second all-Spanish-speaking World Cup final in history, following Uruguay’s victory over Argentina in the inaugural 1930 decider and the first to feature the reigning champions of Europe and South America.

For Argentina, the stakes extend beyond defending the trophy they won in Qatar four years ago. Lionel Scaloni’s side are chasing a fourth World Cup title and a place alongside Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 teams as the only nations to successfully defend the championship.

Spain, meanwhile, are seeking their second World Cup crown after their triumph in South Africa in 2010, hoping to cement their status as international football’s dominant force after capturing the European Championship.

Few finals could script a richer narrative, as arguably football’s greatest-ever player, Messi, takes on his presumed successor, Lamine Yamal, with both being products of Barcelona’s legendary La Masia academy.

Argentina survives every test

Argentina’s road to the final has been defined by resilience as much as quality.

The South Americans comfortably won Group J with victories over Algeria, Austria and Jordan before navigating a demanding knockout stage that repeatedly tested their character.

They edged Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, rallied to defeat Egypt by the same score in the Round of 16, overcame Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals, and produced another dramatic comeback against England in the semifinals.

Trailing late in Atlanta, Enzo Fernandez equalized before Lautaro Martinez struck deep into stoppage time to seal a memorable 2-1 victory and send the defending champions back to the final.

Argentina have relied on timely goals throughout the tournament, consistently finding another level in decisive moments. While their attack has been among the tournament’s most productive, defensive lapses have occasionally left Scaloni’s side vulnerable, making late heroics a recurring theme of its title defense.

Spain’s defensive dominance

Spain have taken a different route.

Luis de la Fuente’s squad has built its campaign on defensive discipline, patient possession and tactical control.

After opening with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, Spain defeated Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to win Group H before cruising through the knockout rounds with victories over Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France.

The semifinal win over France further highlighted Spain’s balance, combining relentless pressing with clinical finishing while extending what has been the tournament’s most impressive defensive record.

Spain has conceded just one goal in seven matches, a remarkable achievement in an expanded World Cup featuring longer schedules and deeper fields.

Its midfield has consistently dictated matches, allowing La Roja to control possession while limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities.

Messi’s final pursuit of greatness

Even at 39, Messi remains the centerpiece of Argentina’s attack.

The captain enters the final with eight tournament goals, combining finishing, creativity and leadership in what could become the defining chapter of an already legendary international career.

Whether operating between the lines or creating space for teammates, Messi continues to shape games with moments of brilliance that few players in history have matched.

He is expected to start alongside Julian Alvarez, while Lautaro Martinez offers another elite attacking option after his semifinal winner against England.

Behind them, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul provide the balance between creativity and relentless work rate that has become the foundation of Scaloni’s midfield.

Defensively, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and center backs Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez bring valuable experience, although Argentina will need greater concentration against Spain’s dynamic attack.

Spain’s new generation arrives

While Argentina leans on experience, Spain represents football’s emerging future.

Rodri anchors one of the world’s strongest midfields, controlling tempo with calm distribution and exceptional defensive awareness. Alongside him, Pedri continues to dictate play with intelligence beyond his years.

Out wide, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have transformed Spain into one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking teams, combining pace, creativity and fearlessness against elite defenses.

Their movement has created space for Mikel Oyarzabal, whose composure in front of goal has been another key ingredient in Spain’s run to the final.

Behind them, goalkeeper Unai Simon and a disciplined back line led by Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Cucurella have formed the tournament’s toughest defense.

Contrasting philosophies

Sunday’s final offers a compelling tactical contrast.

Spain is expected to dominate possession through Rodri and Pedri, patiently circulating the ball before attacking through Yamal and Williams on the wings.

Argentina is more comfortable absorbing pressure before striking quickly in transition, with Messi orchestrating attacks and Alvarez stretching opposing defenses with his movement.

The midfield battle could ultimately determine the outcome.

If Spain establishes control through Rodri and Pedri, Argentina may spend long stretches defending. If Fernandez, Mac Allister and De Paul disrupt Spain’s rhythm, Messi will receive the space needed to influence the match.

Spain’s disciplined defensive structure will also face its toughest challenge against an Argentina side that has repeatedly delivered in high-pressure moments.

History awaits

The nations have rarely met in meaningful competition.

Argentina won their only previous World Cup meeting 2-1 during the 1966 group stage, while Spain’s memorable 6-1 victory in a 2018 friendly remains one of the most lopsided results between the two sides.

After their scheduled meeting in the canceled Qatar Finalissima never materialized, Argentina and Spain now have the chance to write a far more significant chapter on football’s biggest stage.

For Argentina, victory would secure back-to-back World Cup titles and further strengthen the country’s place among football’s greatest powers.

For Spain, lifting the trophy would confirm the arrival of another golden generation capable of dominating international football for years to come.

Lionel Messi’s latest World Cup heroics have reignited familiar conspiracy theories, with critics once again accusing FIFA of favoring Argentina. But a closer examination of the tournament’s biggest refereeing controversies tells a far different story.

Nearly every decision cited as evidence of corruption aligns with the Laws of the Game and established VAR protocol rather than any coordinated effort to help the defending champions.

The narrative is hardly new. Similar accusations surfaced throughout Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign, largely fueled by disappointed rival fan bases unwilling to accept Messi’s crowning achievement.

Four years later, the claims have become even louder, spreading far beyond traditional football circles and dominating social media whenever Argentina takes the field.

Instead of celebrating one of the greatest players in history producing another remarkable World Cup at nearly 40 years old, much of the online discussion has centered on allegations that the tournament has somehow been engineered in Argentina’s favor.

The reality, however, is far less sensational.

Algeria controversy

The first major flashpoint came during Argentina’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Algeria, where Messi scored a brilliant hat trick.

The match was overshadowed by a first-half challenge in which Messi caught defender Aissa Mandi on the lower leg. Algeria’s football federation formally complained to FIFA, arguing Messi should have received a red card.

Replays suggested otherwise.

While the tackle was reckless enough to warrant a yellow card, it did not satisfy the criteria for serious foul play.

Messi approached the challenge at relatively low speed, did not lunge dangerously with excessive force and made contact as Mandi stepped into the path of the sliding challenge.

Under the Laws of the Game, reckless challenges are punished with yellow cards. Red cards are reserved for tackles involving excessive force or those that clearly endanger an opponent.

Similar or even more severe incidents elsewhere in the tournament received comparable treatment, reinforcing the consistency of officiating rather than suggesting preferential treatment for Messi.

Austria debate

Questions resurfaced during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria after Messi opened the scoring.

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick argued Alexis Mac Allister committed a foul during the buildup.

The replay showed two players battling shoulder to shoulder for possession. Mac Allister neither pushed, tripped nor lunged at his opponent before shielding the ball and launching Argentina’s attack.

The referee had an unobstructed view and immediately judged the challenge to be fair. Since there was no clear and obvious error, VAR had no grounds to intervene.

Cape Verde complaints

Argentina’s knockout-stage qualification against Cape Verde produced another wave of criticism focused on three officiating decisions.

The first involved a delayed whistle after Messi was fouled.

Rather than indicating indecision, the pause reflected the proper application of the advantage rule. Referees are instructed to briefly delay their whistle to determine whether the attacking team can benefit before stopping play.

The second complaint centered on Messi taking a quick free kick before goalkeeper Vozinha had fully organized his defensive wall.

Match footage showed the referee had already blown his whistle to restart play after confirming the goalkeeper was in position. Vozinha continued adjusting his wall after play had legally resumed, making any resulting disadvantage his responsibility rather than the referee’s.

Critics also questioned the three minutes of added time at the end of extra time.

Although referees may extend stoppage time when necessary, ending the match shortly after the announced minimum had elapsed falls well within standard officiating practice.

Egypt controversy

The most intense backlash arrived in the round of 16.

Argentina rallied from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3-2, prompting Egyptian players and coaches to accuse officials of manipulating the result.

The primary controversy involved a goal by Mostafa Zico that VAR overturned.

Review footage showed Marwan Attia fouled Lisandro Martínez by pulling his shirt and stepping on his foot while winning possession at the beginning of Egypt’s attacking sequence.

Because Egypt retained possession throughout the entire move before scoring, the foul remained part of the same attacking phase, giving VAR full authority to intervene under the protocol.

Although some considered the foul soft, the decision itself was consistent with FIFA’s interpretation of VAR procedures.

Egypt also appealed for a late penalty after Mac Allister briefly grabbed Hamdi Fathi’s shirt inside the area during a corner.

Officials determined the contact was minimal and did not prevent Fathi from challenging for the ball. Similar shirt pulling routinely occurs during set pieces without resulting in penalties unless it clearly affects an opponent’s ability to compete.

Another disputed incident involved Mohamed Salah going to ground inside the penalty area.

Replays indicated Argentina’s defender cleanly won the ball before Salah’s momentum carried him into the challenge. Neither Salah nor his teammates mounted significant protests during the match, often an indication that players themselves recognized the tackle as fair.

Argentina still needed to overcome a missed Messi penalty and capitalize on Egypt’s defensive collapse after scoring three goals from open play during a decisive spell.

A pattern beyond Argentina

Supporters of the conspiracy theory frequently focus only on decisions involving Messi while overlooking officiating mistakes that benefited Argentina’s opponents.

Examples throughout the tournament included questionable challenges that escaped punishment and clear yellow cards that were never issued against opposing players.

Such inconsistencies are common in football and reflect human error rather than evidence of systematic favoritism toward one team.

Echoes of 2022

Many of the current accusations mirror those made during Argentina’s successful 2022 World Cup campaign.

Messi’s handball against the Netherlands remains a frequent talking point despite the Laws of the Game stating that deliberate handball does not automatically require a yellow card. A booking is issued only when the offense stops a promising attack, interrupts a dangerous counterattack or provides a tactical advantage.

None of those conditions applied in that incident.

Penalty decisions against France, Croatia and the Netherlands have also repeatedly been described as gifts despite replay evidence showing defenders committed clear fouls.

Critics rarely acknowledge that Messi missed a penalty against Poland or that the referee allowed more than 10 minutes of stoppage time against the Netherlands, during which Wout Weghorst scored a dramatic equalizer.

Likewise, if officials were determined to guarantee Argentina victory in the 2022 final, France would never have been awarded two penalties that allowed Kylian Mbappé to force extra time.

The facts outweigh the theories

Argentina’s run to another World Cup final has been built on outstanding football rather than favorable officiating.

The defending champions survived extra time, overcame difficult knockout opponents and relied on Messi’s enduring brilliance against England to reach another title match, where they will face Spain.

Yet each victory has generated fresh conspiracy theories, many driven more by social media engagement than careful analysis of the laws governing the sport.

Every controversial decision deserves scrutiny. That is part of football. But reviewing the tournament’s biggest flashpoints reveals consistent applications of the rules rather than evidence of a coordinated effort to steer Argentina toward another trophy.

Galatasaray has officially parted ways with Mauro Icardi, bringing an end to one of the most successful and beloved chapters in the club’s modern history as the Argentine striker leaves Istanbul after four trophy-filled seasons that transformed him into a club legend.

The Turkish champions announced Icardi’s departure Wednesday with an emotional farewell message on social media, thanking the 33-year-old for his goals, leadership and lasting impact on generations of supporters.

“Today is not about saying goodbye. It’s about celebrating a legacy,” the club wrote. “You no longer wear the Galatasaray jersey, but your place in our hearts will never change. You experienced the passion of Galatasaray and made millions experience it with you. You will forever live among the unforgettable legends of this club. Every Galatasaray fan knows. A love like this is never forgotten.”

The farewell marked the official end of a partnership that began on Sept. 8, 2022, when Icardi arrived on loan from Paris Saint-Germain before making the move permanent the following summer in a deal reportedly worth 10 million euros ($11.6 million).

Buruk says goodbye

Head coach Okan Buruk also paid tribute to the striker, describing the farewell as one of the toughest moments of his coaching career.

“Goodbyes are always difficult, but it is even harder to say goodbye to a football icon who wrote his name into Galatasaray history,” Buruk said.

“We won trophies together, dominated the league and broke important records over the last four years. You helped an entire generation fall in love with these colors and left unforgettable memories for our supporters. As the Galatasaray coach and as a fan, I thank you for everything. Mauro Icardi will always remain an important member of this family and will continue representing our club with pride wherever he goes. We love you, King.”

Goals, trophies and records

Icardi leaves Galatasaray with a remarkable legacy.

The Argentine scored 77 goals in 134 competitive appearances, becoming the highest-scoring foreign player in club history by surpassing Galatasaray icon Gheorghe Hagi’s previous record of 72 goals.

He also became the club’s all-time leading foreign scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with 65 goals.

Across four seasons, Icardi helped Galatasaray capture six major trophies, including four consecutive Super Lig titles from 2022-23 through 2025-26, the 2023 Turkish Super Cup and the 2024-25 Turkish Cup.

His finest individual campaign came in 2023-24, when he scored 25 league goals in 34 matches to finish as the Super Lig’s top scorer while leading Galatasaray to another championship.

A fan favorite beyond the goals

Icardi’s popularity extended well beyond his scoring record.

His signature celebration, blond hair, charismatic personality and connection with supporters made him one of the most recognizable figures in Turkish football.

Fans dyed their hair blond to resemble him, while singer Simge Sağın’s hit song Aşkın Olayım, adopted as his goal anthem, became synonymous with Galatasaray’s success and echoed throughout RAMS Park after nearly every goal.

Children imitated his celebrations, and his influence helped strengthen the bond between a new generation of supporters and the club.

Career milestones in yellow and red

Icardi scored his first Galatasaray goal against Alanyaspor on Oct. 23, 2022, and his final goal came against Gençlerbirliği on April 18, 2026.

His 134 appearances included:

96 in the Super Lig 16 in the UEFA Champions League Six in Champions League qualifying Six in the UEFA Europa League Six in the Turkish Cup Four in the Turkish Super Cup

He also became the highest scorer at RAMS Park since the stadium opened in 2011, netting 47 goals on Galatasaray’s home ground.

In Istanbul derbies, Icardi consistently delivered in the biggest moments. He scored three goals in eight matches against Fenerbahçe and added five goals in seven appearances against Beşiktaş.

Overcoming adversity

One of the biggest challenges of Icardi’s Galatasaray career came in November 2024, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus damage during a UEFA Europa League match against Tottenham.

The lengthy rehabilitation kept him sidelined for 281 days before he returned at the start of the 2025-26 league season against Fatih Karagümrük, completing one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent club history.

No. 99 to club immortality

Icardi initially wore the No. 99 jersey after arriving in Istanbul before eventually taking the iconic No. 9 shirt.

Four unforgettable years later, he departs not simply as one of Galatasaray’s greatest strikers but as one of the defining figures of an era that delivered sustained domestic dominance and rekindled the club’s identity.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s close relationship with President Donald Trump has helped smooth the path for a successful World Cup, and attention is now turning to IOC President Kirsty Coventry to see whether she will pursue a similar approach ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

So far, Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA28 organizing committee, and his team have led dealings with the U.S. administration.

Coventry, the former Zimbabwean Olympic swimming champion who has been IOC president for just over a year, has yet to meet Trump.

“Wasserman’s team’s mandate is to deliver the Games, protect the revenue and ‘make the trains run on time,'” Terrence Burns, a former IOC marketing executive, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“President Coventry’s mandate is to protect universality and the integrity of sport.

“Those two things run in parallel right up to the moment they don’t, and the moment they don’t is when relationships, not only contracts, matter.”

Chief among Coventry’s priorities is ensuring safe entry for the thousands of athletes who will compete at the Games.

In terms of numbers, the World Cup is minuscule compared with the Olympics: 11,200 athletes, or 15,000 including the Paralympics, compared with about 1,200 at the World Cup. However, the U.S. refused entry to FIFA-accredited Somali referee Omar Artan and also blocked some members of the Iranian delegation.

“Managing the political dynamics counting down to LA28 is arguably President Coventry’s biggest challenge,” Michael Payne, a former IOC head of marketing who is well informed on Olympic matters, told AFP.

“It is totally naive to think that you can have the whole world turn up without strong engagement with the political authorities,” he added.

“Failure by the IOC leadership to properly engage with the global political establishment is a recipe for disaster.”

It is one thing to deal with the political establishment and quite another to deal with the maverick that is Trump.

Asked last year how she intended to deal with Trump, Coventry said: “I have been dealing with, let’s say, difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old.”

Burns, however, said: “Nobody handles him. The question is whether the IOC has a strategy that does not depend on personal chemistry.

“This means a private channel with a respected relationship, and hopefully one where no public statement demands a public response.”

‘Pragmatic’

Infantino has made much of his closeness to Trump, awarding him the much-ridiculed inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, but it has also created problems.

For example, Trump admitted he had intervened by calling Infantino to request that the red card shown to U.S. World Cup star Folarin Balogun be reviewed so he could play in the round of 16 against Belgium.

FIFA promptly rescinded the card, and Balogun was allowed to play, although the United States lost heavily and was eliminated.

Burns suggested that if a similar situation had involved a Cape Verde player, “a call from the president of Cape Verde would not have had a similar result.”

“The real lesson for President Coventry regarding Trump is never to mistake proximity for influence,” Burns said.

“Infantino just made that mistake in front of the entire world.

“But, and this is important, in the end, Infantino’s No. 1 objective is a successful 2026 World Cup, and he is pragmatic enough to understand what it takes to do that.

“One may disagree with how he goes about it, but he’s operating in a very narrow lane with a definitive timeline.”

Payne said Coventry, a former sports minister in Zimbabwe’s government, should look to Juan Antonio Samaranch rather than Irishman Michael Killanin as an example.

“In the late 1970s, IOC President Killanin did not really engage up front with the political authorities, and that led to a decade of boycotts that nearly destroyed the Olympic movement,” Payne said.

“Samaranch had to spend much of his presidency engaging with political leaders to get them to understand that boycotts were a failed strategy and to support the Olympics.”

Coventry could also take a leaf out of her predecessor Thomas Bach’s book.

“Tokyo 2020 only took place in 2021 because it had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and because Thomas Bach built a very close relationship with Prime Minister Abe,” Payne said.

“Maybe Bach put too much emphasis on politics, but going in the opposite direction and ignoring the political establishment is not going to work.”

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Some dreams come true, but few stories capture football’s magic quite like the remarkable bond between the GOAT Lionel Messi and his heir apparent, Lamine Yamal.

Nearly 19 years after a young Messi posed for a charity calendar while holding and bathing an infant Yamal at Barcelona’s Camp Nou, the two are set to meet on opposite sides in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

What began as a routine charity event has become one of the sport’s most extraordinary coincidences, bringing together arguably the greatest player of all time and one of its brightest new stars on football’s biggest stage.

The origins

The story began in the fall of 2007, when UNICEF organized a charity raffle in Rocafonda, a neighborhood in Mataro, Spain. The winning prize was a photo session at Camp Nou with a Barcelona first-team player.

Yamal’s family won.

Messi, then just 20 years old and emerging as one of Barcelona’s brightest talents, took part in the charity calendar shoot organized with local newspaper Diario Sport.

During the session, photographer Joan Monfort captured a series of memorable images showing Messi gently holding, smiling at and even bathing the 5-month-old Yamal in a small plastic tub inside Barcelona’s dressing room.

Monfort later recalled that Messi, naturally shy at the time, initially appeared uncomfortable with the unusual assignment before settling into the role.

For years, the photographs remained little more than a touching charity memory. They resurfaced and quickly spread across social media as Yamal developed into one of football’s most exciting young talents, transforming into a symbolic passing of the torch between two generations of Barcelona stars.

Yamal’s meteoric rise

Born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona, Yamal joined the club’s renowned La Masia academy at the age of 7 after beginning his football journey with local side CF La Torreta.

His rise has been nothing short of spectacular.

Yamal made his Barcelona first-team debut on April 29, 2023, at just 15 years, 9 months and 16 days old, becoming the youngest player to appear for the club in the modern era. He soon added more records, including becoming the youngest La Liga starter, while reaching 50 first-team appearances faster than any previous Barcelona player.

By the 2025-26 season, Yamal had already established himself as one of the game’s elite young players. He helped Spain win the 2024 European Championship, collected multiple La Liga titles with Barcelona and became the club’s undisputed star on the right wing, earning praise for his dazzling dribbling, creativity and remarkable composure despite his age.

Now wearing Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 jersey, Yamal has never hidden his admiration for Messi. He has frequently described the Argentine as his idol and once said he dreamed of swapping shirts with him after facing Argentina in a World Cup final.

That dream is now reality.

Messi still chasing history

While Yamal represents football’s future, Messi continues to redefine longevity.

Now just a year shy of 40, La Pulga inspired La Albiceleste to a 2-1 comeback victory over England on Wednesday, sending the defending champions into a second straight World Cup final as he looks to add yet another chapter to one of football’s greatest careers.

After leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, ending the nation’s 36-year wait for football’s biggest trophy, Messi returns with the defending champions aiming to secure back-to-back World Cup crowns.

His legendary Barcelona career shaped an era and inspired an entire generation of La Masia graduates, including Yamal, making Sunday’s showdown especially meaningful for the club’s supporters.

La Masia icons become World Cup opponents

Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey offers far more than a meeting between Spain and Argentina.

It pits experience against youth, football’s greatest modern icon against its newest superstar, and two players forever linked by a photograph neither could have imagined would carry such significance.

Argentina will once again rely on Messi’s leadership, vision and ability to deliver in decisive moments as it attempts to defend its world title.

Spain, who eliminated France, meanwhile, arrive with one of the tournament’s most exciting young squads, built around Yamal’s creativity and attacking brilliance after the country’s recent international resurgence.

For Barcelona supporters, the occasion brings mixed emotions. Messi remains the defining figure of the club’s greatest era, while Yamal has emerged as the face of its future.

Both represent La Masia’s success, but unfortunately, only one will leave New Jersey as a World Cup champion.

The Daily Sabah Newsletter

Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.

SIGN ME UP

You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.