Lionel Messi Surprised by Encounter with Former Teammate's Son
Messi's Unexpected Meeting
During Argentina's recent friendly match against Iceland on June 9, prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi experienced a moment of surprise. The game, held at the Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, concluded with Argentina securing a 3-0 victory, thanks to goals from Valentin Barco and Messi himself.
After the match, Messi was approached by Icelandic forward Daniel Gudjohnsen, who is the son of Messi's former Barcelona teammate, Eiður Guðjohnsen. Observers noted Messi's astonishment during their conversation. Daniel revealed his identity, prompting Messi to recall their brief encounter during a training session at Barcelona.
Messi shared his thoughts on the interaction, stating, “He asked me, ‘Do you remember who I am?’ I was taken aback because I honestly didn’t recognize him; he was just a child back then. He then mentioned he was Gudjohnsen's son. I vaguely remember meeting him once when he was with his father at a training session.” The Icelandic player introduced himself to Messi with the words, 'Hi, you played with my dad.' Their conversation ended with a handshake and a warm embrace.
Messi had a long conversation with this Icelandic player because he was told that he and his dad, Eiður Guðjohnsen, used to be teammates at Barcelona. Imagine playing long enough to play against your ex teammate's son ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fUbyvIEGb3
— AM☬ (@AbsoluteMxssi) June 10, 2026
The Gudjohnsen family has a rich football legacy. Daniel's older brothers, Sveinn (28) and Andri (24), are also involved in the sport. Eiður, regarded as one of the top strikers of his era, played for Barcelona from 2006 to 2009, contributing to their treble-winning season. Before his time at Barcelona, he spent six successful years at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles under José Mourinho. Eiður has represented Iceland 88 times, making him one of their top scorers with 26 goals. Additionally, Daniel's grandfather, Arnor, also had a notable football career, earning 73 caps for the national team.