Lamine Yamal Reveals What Messi Told Him After Spain vs Argentina Final
Minutes after Spain’s extra-time win over Argentina landed La Roja their second World Cup title, Lamine Yamal heard a word from Lionel Messi he said was as valuable as his hard-fought gold medal.
As the celebrations got underway in New York, Yamal did not rush towards his teammates or the World Cup trophy. Instead, the Barcelona and Spain star went straight to Messi, whom he has admired since childhood.
The emotional moment quickly went viral on social media. With La Albiceleste and their fans left heartbroken, Messi stood up, and the two shared a warm embrace before exchanging a few quiet words.
Leo Messi and Lamine Yamal. 🫂
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 20, 2026
🎥 @MickyJnr__ pic.twitter.com/dn5fAJcVuh
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Yamal revealed what the Argentinian legend had told him.
«He told me to keep going on my path and that the future belongs to our generation,» Yamal said. «Those words mean just as much to me as the gold medal around my neck.»
«He’s the greatest player in history and someone I’ve always looked up to. After the match, I wanted to show him my respect,» Yamal added, as cited by Argentina’s Todo Noticias TV channel.
Messi and Yamal have already crossed paths in the past. Ahead of Sunday’s World Cup Final, a 2007 photograph resurfaced of a smiling Messi giving a bath to a baby boy who would challenge him on the pitch nearly 20 years later.
The image that made rounds online was part of a charity photoshoot organised by UNICEF and Spanish newspaper Sport.
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