Spain winger Lamine Yamal has disclosed the words of encouragement he received from Lionel Messi after Spain defeated Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Drivetvnews gathered that the two football stars embraced after the final whistle in New Jersey, where Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike secured a 1-0 victory for Spain over Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Speaking after the match, Yamal described Messi as his greatest football inspiration and said he wanted to express his respect to the Argentine captain.
“He’s the greatest player in history and someone I’ve always looked up to,” Yamal said.
According to the 19-year-old, Messi encouraged him to remain focused on his career and continue striving for success.
“He told me to keep following my path and that the future belongs to our generation. Those words are worth as much as the gold medal hanging around my neck,” Yamal revealed.
Yamal, who now wears Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 jersey once made famous by Messi, played a key role in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, further strengthening his reputation as one of football’s brightest young talents.
