Yamal faces Messi for the first time as Spain meet Argentina at Lusail

Spain and Argentina volition conscionable successful the Finalissima connected March 27 astatine Lusail Stadium successful Qatar, mounting up the archetypal on-pitch matchup betwixt Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.

The one-off fixture brings unneurotic the reigning European champions and South American champions astatine the aforesaid venue wherever Argentina lifted the World Cup successful 2022. It volition beryllium the 4th variation of the Finalissima, yet lone the 2nd clip the trophy has been contested this century. Argentina are the existent holders aft beating Italy 3-0 astatine Wembley successful 2022.

Yamal and Leo yet stock a pitch

For Lamine, 18, the crippled adds a idiosyncratic storyline to a high-profile planetary trophy match. He has often been compared to the 38-year-old due to the fact that of their akin paths astatine Barça, positive shared traits specified arsenic playing connected the close wing, being left-footed, and wearing the No. 10 shirt.

Lamine has repeatedly pushed backmost connected the thought that helium is chasing Messi’s shadow. “I respect him, successful the extremity for what's he's been, for what helium is to football, and if we ever conscionable connected a pitch, determination volition beryllium that communal respect due to the fact that we are players and because, for me, he's the champion successful history," Lamine said past month.

“He besides knows I americium a subordinate and I respect him, truthful it's communal respect. We some cognize I don't privation to beryllium Messi and Messi knows I don't privation to beryllium him. I privation to travel my way and that's it."

A acquainted mounting earlier a bigger summer

The Finalissima is not the archetypal clip their names person been linked. Leo posed with a babe Yamal successful 2007 for a foundation calendar, photos that resurfaced wide during Euro 2024. There are besides images of a young Yamal gathering Leo astatine Barcelona’s grooming crushed erstwhile Yamal was coming done the academy.

The lucifer besides lands months earlier adjacent summer’s World Cup successful the United States, Canada and Mexico, with some Spain and Argentina viewed among the favourites.