Following Spain s historic victory over the defending champions, Yamal said that although lifting the World Cup trophy was a dream come true, the words of the Argentine legend became the most valuable memory of the night.
The final featured an emotional meeting between football icon Lionel Messi and Spain s rising star Lamine Yamal. Images and videos of their embrace quickly went viral on social media, drawing admiration from football fans around the world.
Speaking to the media after the match, the 19-year-old Yamal said, "If someone had told me a few years ago that I would play against Lionel Messi in a World Cup final and lift the trophy, I would have thought they were crazy."
He described Messi as the greatest footballer in history and said he has always considered the Argentine captain his idol and mentor.
After Argentina s defeat, Messi was seen sitting on the pitch in disappointment. Yamal walked over to him, hugged him, and showed his respect for the football legend.
According to Yamal, Messi encouraged him and offered valuable advice about the future. "Keep working hard and stay on your path. The future belongs to your generation," Messi reportedly told him.
Yamal said those words meant as much to him as the World Cup winner s medal hanging around his neck.
"The advice from Messi will inspire me throughout my career," he added. Many football fans and analysts already see Lamine Yamal as Messi s natural successor at FC Barcelona. Yamal currently wears the iconic No. 10 shirt once made famous by Messi, and both players developed through Barcelona s renowned youth academy.
While Messi s legacy is firmly established as one of football s greatest players, Yamal is widely regarded as one of the brightest stars of the sport s future.
