Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal revealed Lionel Messi's advice after his team defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup final which he considers very valuable and equal to the gold medal he won.
"He told me to continue following my path and that the future belongs to our generation. Those words mean as much to me as the gold medal hanging around my neck," Yamal said.
Nineteen-year-old Yamal was filmed hugging 39-year-old Messi on the pitch after the final whistle of the 2026 World Cup final in New York. The two were then seen having a brief conversation.
Messi captained Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup and once again shone in the North American tournament. The veteran striker scored eight goals and provided four assists in Argentina's eight matches.
For Yamal, Messi is a figure he greatly admires and deserves to be called the best player in history.
"He is someone I have always admired. At the end of the match, I showed him my respect," said Yamal.
