Lionel Messi Lauds Lamine Yamal Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 final approaches, Lionel Messi has commended Spain's young talent Lamine Yamal, calling him an 'amazing' player. Messi expressed Argentina's determination to prevent Yamal from achieving a historic milestone during the match. Argentina secured their place in the final after a thrilling comeback against England, while Spain reached the final for the first time since 2010 after defeating France. This article delves into Messi's insights and the teams' journeys to the final, promising an exciting showdown.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 18, 2026, 09:52 IST

Messi's Praise for Young Talent

New York [US], July 18: Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, Argentina's captain Lionel Messi has expressed admiration for Spain's rising star, Lamine Yamal, describing him as an "incredible" player. Messi emphasized that Argentina will strive to thwart Yamal's potential historic achievement during the match.

In a post shared by ESPN FC on X, Messi revealed that he has been closely monitoring Yamal's development due to the young player's impressive performances with Barcelona, a club where Messi spent nearly two decades of his career.

"Lamine is truly remarkable, and I’ve been following his journey closely because he plays for a club I hold dear. He has the opportunity to accomplish something historic, and we will do everything in our power to prevent that from happening this time," Messi stated.

Argentina's Journey to the Final

The defending champions, Argentina, secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over England in the semifinals, coming back from a first-half deficit. Enzo Fernandez scored the equalizer, followed by Lautaro Martinez's stoppage-time goal, propelling Argentina into the title match against Spain.

This victory marked Argentina's advancement to the World Cup 2026 final, while England's aspirations for their first World Cup final since 1966 were dashed.

Spain's Path to the Final

Spain, on the other hand, reached the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since their 2010 victory, defeating France 2-0 in a composed display. Lamine Yamal was instrumental in this win, winning a penalty after dispossessing Lucas Digne, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted in the 22nd minute to give Spain an early lead.

Pedro Porro extended Spain's lead after halftime, combining well with Dani Olmo, while France struggled to create significant scoring opportunities.

Yamal had a goal disallowed for offside, and despite late attempts from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, Spain's defense remained resolute, achieving their sixth clean sheet in seven tournament matches.

This victory secured Spain's second-ever appearance in a World Cup final.