Lionel Messi has spoken warmly about Lamine Yamal ahead of a potential World Cup final clash between Argentina and Spain.
Messi, who spent most of his club career at Barcelona, said he follows Yamal closely because the youngster plays for a club he loves.
The Argentina captain described Yamal as a great player and said he has no doubt the Spaniard is among the best in the world.
Messi acknowledged the irony of facing Yamal in a final, given a photograph from 2007 shows him holding Yamal as a baby during a charity raffle to raise funds for UNICEF.
The image resurfaced after Argentina secured their place in the final, highlighting the unusual link between the two players across generations.
Yamal, now wearing Messi’s former No. 10 shirt at Barcelona, was initially a slight doubt for the final alongside defender Pedro Porro.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente later confirmed both players trained normally and are fit for the match.
De la Fuente urged Yamal to forge his own path rather than be measured against Messi, calling the veteran a unique role model.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted stopping Yamal will be difficult, praising him as a fantastic player and a treasure for football.
Scaloni joked that he wished his side could keep Yamal locked away, such is the threat the teenager poses on the world stage.
