'Not just Yamal': Boys who grew up watching Messi now face their idol... The World Cup final that will decide destiny

*This content was translated by AI.

'The god of football' Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina) was once the idol of young boys who now face him for the World Cup championship trophy.

Spanish media outlet AS reported on the 16th (Korean time) in an article titled "From childhood idols in photos to World Cup final rivals" that "Spanish players will now face Argentina's Messi, whom they once admired, on the biggest stage."

Argentina and Spain will meet in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, at 4 a.m. on the 20th.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Argentina secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against England to reach the final. Messi provided two assists in the dying moments of the second half, laying the foundation for the win.

With this, Argentina has reached back-to-back finals after winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In this tournament, they aim for a consecutive World Cup title and their fourth overall championship.

Messi has also seized what is likely his final opportunity to perfectly conclude his World Cup career. He achieved his long-held dream of winning his first World Cup in Qatar. Leading Argentina to the final once again, he now stands on the verge of securing his second World Cup title.

Argentina's opponent in the final is Spain. The "Invincible Fleet" Spain advanced to the final for the first time in 16 years after defeating France in another semi-final match.

Spain last won the World Cup at the 2010 South Africa tournament, their only title so far. This year, they aim for their second overall championship.

Coincidentally, Messi and Spanish national team players share a special connection. Among them, the relationship between Messi and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) has drawn particular attention.

The two first met in 2007, the year Yamal was born. At that time, Yamal's family won a charity event jointly organized by the local newspaper 'Diario Sport' and UNICEF, earning an opportunity to pose for calendar photoshoots, during which they took pictures with Messi.

At 20 years old, Messi posed for a photo in Barcelona's home stadium, Camp Nou, washing six-month-old Yamal who was lying in a plastic baby bathtub in the locker room.

AS stated, "No one could have predicted that the baby cradled in Messi's arms would grow up to become one of Spain's top stars and face him in the World Cup final. It is undoubtedly an astonishing coincidence. At the time, Yamal's family had no connection whatsoever to the football world."

Even more surprising is that it was not only Lamine Yamal among Spanish stars who took photos with Messi during his childhood.

Spanish midfielder Gavi (Barcelona) also had several photos released from his early promising days showing him posing with Messi. According to reports, Gavi grew up idolizing Messi during the latter's prime years at Barcelona.

AS explained, "Gavi now has to directly stop Messi instead of looking up to him as an idol."

Spanish forward Dani Olmo (Barcelona) also grew up dreaming of becoming a player like Messi.

AS reported, "Messi was someone everyone wanted to emulate. Over time, Olmo has become one of the most experienced attacking resources in the Spanish national team heading into the World Cup final."

The report continued, "Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia (Barcelona) is also included among those who took photos with Messi during his childhood. It may have been just a brief photo session or a short meeting back then. But now, with the World Cup title on the line, these moments carry entirely different weight."

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*This content was translated by AI.