Lamine Yamal on Lionel Messi after Spain’s FIFA World Cup triumph over Argentina.
🗣️ Lamine Yamal: “Tonight I lifted the World Cup for Spain, but I also experienced something I’ll tell my children one day. The man who once held me as a baby was standing on the other side of the pitch, fighting for the same dream. Football has a beautiful way of bringing stories full circle.”
“When I looked at Messi after the final whistle, I didn’t just see an opponent. I saw the player who made millions of kids, including me, believe football could be art. I saw the man whose videos I watched over and over, trying to copy things that nobody else could do.”
“I know this defeat will hurt him. You don’t play with that much passion, carry your country again and again, and lose a World Cup final without feeling pain. Even in defeat, he kept demanding the ball, creating chances and refusing to stop believing. That’s what champions do.”
“People will talk about Spain winning this World Cup, and they should. But they’ll also remember that, at an age when most legends have already retired, Messi was still making the world’s best defenders panic every time he touched the ball. That’s extraordinary.”
“The photo of Messi bathing me became one of football’s most iconic images. Today we took another picture together, but this time I could thank him face to face. Without players like him, kids like me wouldn’t dare dream this big.”
“One day another generation will replace mine too. That’s football. But there will never be another Lionel Messi. Records can be broken and trophies can be won, but inspiring an entire generation to fall in love with the game is something only a few people in history will ever achieve.”
“Tonight belongs to Spain. Tomorrow, the debates will continue. But my respect for Lionel Messi will never change. He didn’t need to win this final to prove who he is. For me, he’ll always be one of the greatest players football has ever seen, and sharing the pitch with him was a privilege I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”
🐐—Second-most goals in history (21)
🐐—Most wins in history (23)
🐐—Longest scoring streak (9)
🐐—Oldest hat trick scorer (38)
🐐—Joint-most tournament appearances (6)
🐐—Argentina’s top scorer at World Cup
🐐—Most goals from outside the area (7)
🐐—Most World Cup appearances (34)
🐐—Most appearances as captain (27)
🐐—Most assists in knockout phase (10)
🐐—Only man to score in group stage, Ro16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final (2022)
🐐—World Cup winner 🏆
Lionel Messi says farewell to the 2026 World Cup 🥺
🚨 | 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: The custom pair of Adidas boots made exclusively for Lionel Messi for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is reportedly worth €567,800, making it the most expensive pair of football boots ever made.
🚨"IF MBAPPÉ WINS IT, HE DESERVES IT. MY ONLY GOAL IS TO HELP ARGENTINA WIN."
🚨 INTERVIEWER: Kylian Mbappé is now two goals ahead of you in the Golden Boot race. Do you still believe you can win it?
LOINEL MESSI🗣️..
"Honestly, individual awards have never been my priority. If they come, I'm grateful, but they're never the reason I play football.
My focus has always been helping my team win. That's what truly matters to me.
Mbappé has been fantastic throughout the tournament. If he finishes as the Golden Boot winner, he will deserve it because of everything he's done..
As for me, I'll keep giving everything I have for Argentina. If my goals help us lift the trophy, that's worth far more than any individual award."