Messi and Brady in disbelief over 'prophetic' Lamine Yamal photo

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has described as "crazy" the prospect of facing Spain's Lamine Yamal in Sunday's World Cup final, after a photograph emerged of Messi holding Yamal as a baby. The image, taken in 2007, shows a 20-year-old Messi cradling a five-month-old Yamal during a charity photoshoot at Barcelona, which Yamal's parents had won.

Speaking during a news conference in New York, NFL legend Tom Brady called the photograph "very prophetic." Messi echoed that sentiment: "That photo is incredible. The fact that we're both playing in the World Cup now is crazy."

Yamal's meteoric rise

Lamine Yamal made his Barcelona debut at age 15 and has since inherited the number 10 shirt from Messi. He played a key role in Spain's victory at Euro 2024 and, now aged 19, could become the youngest player ever to win both the European Championships and the World Cup. Messi, 39, acknowledged Yamal's talent: "He's one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona's success."

However, Messi made clear his competitive intentions: "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."

Event highlights and other moments

Messi attended a fans' event on Friday alongside Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Spain captain Rodri. After the news conference, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni embraced Spain counterpart Luis de la Fuente, who was one of the instructors when Scaloni earned his Uefa Pro coaching license in Spain.

The event was hosted by former England defender Rio Ferdinand and actor Kevin Hart. Tennis legend Novak Djokovic and NBA star Kevin Durant joined Brady in asking questions. Brady also continued his ongoing feud with Logan Paul, arguing on stage before the seven-time Super Bowl winner slapped the YouTuber-turned-WWE star. New York Knicks player Karl-Anthony Towns intervened to separate them.

Background on the finalists

The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain features two teams with contrasting styles. Argentina, led by Messi, are known for their defensive solidity and counter-attacking prowess, while Spain rely on possession and team identity. The match will also highlight the bond between Scaloni and De la Fuente, who share a history from Scaloni's coaching education.