FIFA World Cup 2026: "Lamine is truly amazing," Messi praises Spain's teenage sensation before final
New York, July 18
Argentina captain Lionel Messi praised Spain's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, calling him an "amazing" player while saying Argentina will do everything possible to prevent him from achieving a historic milestone.
In a post shared by ESPN FC on X, Messi said he has closely followed Yamal's progress because of the youngster's performances for Barcelona, a club the Argentine legend represented for nearly two decades.
"Lamine is truly amazing, and I've followed him a lot because he plays for a club I love so much. He has a chance to achieve something historic, and we're going to try to make sure that doesn't happen this time," Messi said.
Defending champions Argentina secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over England in the semifinal, overturning a first-half deficit with Enzo Fernandez scoring the equaliser before Lautaro Martinez netted the stoppage-time winner to send the defending champions into the title clash against Spain.
The win over England sent Argentina into the World Cup 2026 final, while England's hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 came to a heartbreaking end.
Spain, on the other hand, secured a place in the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since their 2010 triumph after defeating France 2-0 with a composed performance. Lamine Yamal played a key role in the win, winning a penalty after dispossessing Lucas Digne, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted in the 22nd minute to give Spain the lead.
Pedro Porro doubled Spain's advantage after the break following a fine move with Dani Olmo, while France struggled to create clear chances.
Yamal had a goal ruled out for offside, and despite late efforts from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, Spain's defence held firm to secure their sixth clean sheet in seven tournament matches.
The victory booked Spain's second-ever World Cup final appearance.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I've been watching Yamal since his debut at Barca and he's genuinely special. But Messi's statement is also a warning - Argentina will have a plan for him. The final will be a tactical battle. Spain's defense vs Argentina's attack. Can't wait!
Argentina vs Spain final - feels like a classic European vs South American battle. But India's football journey makes me wonder - where are our young talents playing at the highest level? The gap between us and top football nations is still massive. On a positive note, the ISL is helping, but we need more exposure for our youngsters.
I love that Messi can separate his love for Barca from his competitive spirit. He's saying "I want this kid to succeed... but not against me." That's the mentality of a champion. Also, India should take notes - look at how Spain and Argentina develop youth. We need to scout more aggressively in smaller towns and cities.
Messi's words are perfect - respectful but competitive. From an Indian perspective, we need to understand that building a football culture takes decades. Spain waited 14 years after 2010 to reach another final. Argentina rebuilt after 2014. We need patience and systemic investment, not quick fixes. 🇮🇳⚽
I'd love to see Spain win it - Yamal winning a World Cup at 18 would be one of the greatest stories in sports history. But Argentina's experience is unmatched. India's football fans are watching this closely too - the Sunil Chhetri era is ending, and we need to plan for the future just like
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