Lamine Yamal has always idolised Lionel Messi. The Barcelona legend has been – and continues to be – his one true inspiration. “I never had another,” Yamal told Tuttosport. “Once, I took a photo with him. I was unknown.” At that time, he truly was – just a baby, only a few weeks old, when he and his mother took part in a 2007 charity calendar photoshoot organised by SPORT.

The image of a 20-year-old Messi bathing an infant Yamal has since become iconic. The symbolism is powerful: it almost looks as though Messi is blessing Barcelona’s next prodigy, anointing the heir to his throne as football’s next great star.

This Sunday, that long-foretold moment could come full circle. Messi and Yamal are set to meet again – this time on opposite sides in the World Cup final. It feels like the perfect stage for a symbolic passing of the torch, with Yamal ready to mark the end of one glorious era and the dawn of another.

“I’m very demanding of myself”

It might seem unfair to burden Yamal with such immense expectations, though he’s grown used to it since breaking into Barcelona’s senior team at 16. Messi’s unmatched consistency over two decades sets him apart from everyone else in football history, and it’s a huge challenge for anyone, especially a teenager, to replicate that level of sustained brilliance.

Yamal himself admits that “reaching Messi’s level is impossible,” but adds that he hopes to “maybe one day be like him.” Such ambition is hardly surprising coming from him. He often says that he no longer feels any pressure, having left that behind in his hometown of Mataró years ago. It’s hard to argue otherwise – his composure at just 16 during the European Championship was extraordinary.

Still, while he may not feel external pressure, Yamal is often his own toughest critic. After Spain’s quarter-final win over Belgium, he admitted, “I’m very demanding of myself. I’m never satisfied with what I’m doing.” That mindset may explain why he sometimes tries too hard to make things happen during Spain’s 2026 World Cup campaign.

One goal, zero assists

Before the tournament, most analysts agreed that Spain’s chances hinged heavily on Yamal’s influence. His injury at the end of Barcelona’s 2025–26 season had raised serious concerns about his fitness. Spain’s lack of cutting edge was clear in their shock opening draw against Cape Verde, a match Yamal started on the bench. Once reinstated in the starting eleven, La Roja looked transformed.

He featured only in the first half against Saudi Arabia but helped inspire a 4-0 win. Yet, somewhat unexpectedly, he hasn’t scored or assisted since then – something that clearly frustrates a player who demands perfection from himself.

Sage advice

Spain’s captain Rodri shared some advice for his young teammate: “I think Lamine needs to calm down a bit, because of that anxiety to prove himself. But he’s very important for us because of what he does both with and without the ball.”

“It’s true he’s only 19, and we have to calm him down at times. He’s very mature for his age but still learning how to read the game, which is normal. I always tell him to keep playing, not to stop if he doesn’t get a foul. He listens, he wants to learn, and he sets a great example with his attitude.”

“Anything I can do to help”

Yamal has handled constant scrutiny about his goal tally with remarkable maturity. He knows how vital his presence is to Spain’s play – the national team hasn’t lost a single game he has started since his debut in September 2023.

“I know that my movement draws defenders and creates space for teammates,” he explained. “Anything I can do to help, even if I don’t touch the ball, is positive. Everyone’s obsessed with goals, but we won the European Championship with me scoring just once.”

That lone strike was spectacular and decisive – sparking Spain’s comeback against France in their 2-1 win in the Euro 2024 semi-final. Many believe it’s only a matter of time before he leaves his imprint on this World Cup, and Yamal himself feels his moment is near.

Saving the best for last?

“I’ve never been the best player in the group stage,” Yamal told Mundo Deportivo last week. “But when the big matches come – the semi-finals or the final – that’s when I play my best.”

His performance against France in Texas backed that up. Though he didn’t score or assist, he tormented Lucas Digne throughout, winning the penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal converted to open the scoring. He also played a role in Spain’s second goal and thought he had netted a third before it was ruled out for offside.

“Yamal is the best”

At 39, Messi has already secured his third World Cup Golden Ball – an unprecedented feat, as no one had ever won two before. His stunning display in Argentina’s dramatic semi-final comeback against England likely sealed the award and possibly a ninth Ballon d’Or.

Yamal might not yet match such astonishing achievements, but few are better placed to carry Messi’s legacy forward when the Argentine maestro eventually retires. Messi himself endorsed the young Spaniard, saying just two months ago, “There’s a new generation of very talented footballers, but if I have to choose one for what he’s done and what he can still achieve, it’s Lamine. There’s no doubt, for me, he’s the best.”

On Sunday, Yamal will have the chance to prove his idol right – on the grandest stage of them all – in front of the man he has always been destined to follow.