(COMBO) This combination of file photos created on July 16, 2026, shows Spain’s forward #19 Lamine Yamal in Arlington on July 14, 2026 (L); and Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi in Atlanta on July 15, 2026. Spain and Argentina will meet in the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU and Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)
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NEW YORK – There is no middle ground in Sunday’s World Cup final.
Either 39-year-old Lionel Messi adds to his legend and seemingly endless trophy collection with an exclamation point on his storybook career, or 19-year-old Lamine Yamal writes a new chapter in his.
That is what is at stake when defending champion Argentina faces Spain in the cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. at 3 p.m. (FOX, Telemundo), which is expected to include President Trump among the capacity crowd and a global audience estimated at 1.5 billion.
Messi, otherwise known as the G.O.A.T to most of the soccer universe, has done it all.
He has won world championships, continental crowns and league titles.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 15: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates the team’s second goal by Lautaro Martinez #22 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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The Lionel Messi File
Here is a Reader’s Digest version of his accomplishments:
Team (club and international)
* One World Cup championship
* Two-time Copa America champion
* 2008 Olympic gold medalist (Argentina)
* 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup winner
* Ten La Liga titles, all with Barcelona in Spain
* Seven Copa del Rey championships
* One MLS Cup championship, with Inter Miami CF in 2025
Individual
* Eight-time winner of the Ballon D’Or, awarded to the best player on the planet by France Football
* Two-time FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner
* Two Copa America Golden Balls
* Sixteen-time Argentine player of the year
* Two-time MLS MVP
* One MLS Golden Boot
And remember, those are very short lists.
“I think that it goes beyond words what Messi means as a player, what he means for Argentina,” Spain captain Rodri said at the FIFA World Cup final preview conference at the Javits Center on Saturday night. “Obviously. For me, he’s the greatest of all time. He’s a player that has managed to lead his national team, and he led his team in Qatar to win the World Cup trophy.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 07: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates with teammates after the 3-2 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Some history in the making for Messi
If Messi and Argentina secure their second successive World Cup championship, they will become only the third team to win back-to-back titles, joining Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962).
“Messi is pure history,” Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said. “To be able to arrive at a final as he has at 39, I think, is something incredible.”
Messi, who has scored a career-record 21 World Cup goals, trails France’s Kylian Mbappe for the Golden Ball lead (8 to 10). He tallied six goals in the group stage before taking on a playmaking role in the knockout round.
He may not be the same player that led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup, but Messi’s great vision and high soccer IQ have had an impact. When Messi has the ball, opponents converge on him, leaving teammates open.
So, opponents can pick their poison. They can let Messi take a shot or have him pass the ball to a lesser known, but talented teammate to score.
“We won’t man-mark him, but we’ll be vigilant,” Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said.
Asked if he thought Messi would consider retiring from international soccer, Scaloni responded: “What do I know? Ask him. I don’t have the faintest idea, to be honest. He doesn’t stop surprising us.”
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 14: Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain is fouled in the box by Lucas Digne #3 of France during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. Spain was awarded a penalty. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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The Lamine Yamal file
Given that he just turned 19 on July 13, Yamal doesn’t boast as long a resume as Messi. But he has gotten off to quite an impressive start.
Since 2023, Yamal has scored 30 goals in 101 appearances for Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga. He also has tallied seven times in 32 international matches.
Team (club and international)
* Three-time La Liga winner
* One Copa del Rey title
Individual
* 2025 Ballon D’Or runner-up
* Youngest player and goal scorer in the European Championship at the age of 16 in 2024
* European Championship Young Player Award
* La Liga player of the season
* Two-time Under-23 La Liga player of the season
Not bad for a teenager, not bad at all.
A World Cup title as a 19-year-old would top off the list.
Yamal, who recuperated from a hamstring injury before the cup, limped off the field after Spain’s win over France, did not train on Thursday, but returned to practice on Friday.
He is expected to play on Sunday.
“He’s fine, there are no problems with him,” de la Fuente said. “He took a heavy knock, but he coped with the match perfectly.
“We gave him a rest yesterday; today he’s been training with his teammates as normal.”
De la Fuente was asked if Lame can be compared to Messi.
“Lamine has to be Lamine,” he said. “Messi is a one-of-a-kind player and is having a spectacular World Cup. And Lamine also has spectacular potential.”
(COMBO) This combination of file photos created on July 16, 2026, shows Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi in Atlanta on July 15, 2026 (L); and Spain’s forward #19 Lamine Yamal in Atlanta on June 21, 2026. Spain and Argentina will meet in the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN and Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)
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Messi, Yamal are linked together forever
Regardless of how the final turns out, the two stars will be linked together forever.
A 2007 picture surfaced this week showing a 20-year-old Messi bathing a baby Yamal, during a charity calendar shoot. Sarah Ferguson, wrote a story about the photo for Forbes.com.
During a UNICEF photo shoot, Messi, then 20, posed with a 5-month-old Yamal for a calendar benefiting children’s rights.
At the Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center on Friday night, Messi spoke about that photo.
“Now we are facing each other,” he said. “What a crazy picture!”
He then praised the teenager, who plays for the same Spanish La Liga club, Barcelona, at which Messi forged his reputation.
“Lamine is a huge player I followed a lot because he plays in a club that I love,” he said. “He is one of the leaders worldwide [at] 19. He has his whole career ahead of him. He has a great opportunity to make history, which we intend to give our maximum so that it’s not this time. I wish him the best.”
Sometime early evening on Sunday, either Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal will be celebrating with the best soccer team in the world.
Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X an Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.