Could Lamine Yamal meet hero Lionel Messi in ‘Finalissima’?
Spanish Wunderkind If Lionel Messi continues to play for Argentina, Lamine Yamal may have the opportunity to play with his idol next summer.
In the Berlin final, Yamal helped Spain win a record-tying fourth European Championship on Sunday by setting up Nico Williams’ first goal as La Roja defeated England 2-1.
The brilliant 17-year-old Barcelona tyro, who celebrated his birthday the day before the final, finished an amazing individual tournament. Yamal became the youngest player, goal scorer, finalist, and best young player of the month-long Euro 2024 in Germany. Having played in seven games and finished with one goal and four assists, he was the competition’s breakthrough player.
From across the Atlantic,
The game-winning goal was scored by substitute Lautaro Martinez, and Messi, who plays club football for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer, was forced to watch from the bench.
Eight times Winner of the Ballon d’Or With an ankle injury, Messi had to be replaced halfway through the second half, leaving the field inconsolable.
Those soon turned to tears of joy though as Messi and Argentina collected a third-straight international title following their 2021 Copa triumph and the 2022 World Cup.
Messi, who just recently made headlines for doing a photoshoot with Yamal when he was just a few months old, could be passing the torch when the two countries play.
Here’s everything to know about the Finalissima:
What is Finalissima?
The Finalissima (Italian for “grand final”) is a one-off match between the winners of the European Championship and Copa America for another trophy.
When was the first Finalissima?
The first match was played in 1985 it what then called the European/South American Nations Cup.
It was also held in 1993 before being discontinued until the rebranded 2022 game that saw Messi and Argentina beat Euro 2020 winners Italy 3-0.
Who has won the most Finalissimas?
Argentina are two-time winners, having first beaten Denmark in 1993 before their most recent victory over Italy. In the first edition, Euro ’84 winners France beat South American champions Uruguay 2-0.
When is the next Finalissima?
The next Finalissima is expected to be held in 2025. No date has been specified but it is almost certain to be held some time in the summer.
Will Yamal face Messi?
While Yamal’s international career is just taking off, Messi’s is most definitely closer to the end. At age 37, there are few things left for Messi to achieve in a glittering career that already has him earmarked as arguably the greatest player ever.
Two of Messi’s teammates – Angel di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi, both 36 – announced their international teammates in the wake of their recent Copa triumph. Whether Messi follows them or decides to carry on remains to be seen.
Their paths have crossed before. Yamal’s father, Mounir, recently posted a picture of a then 20-year-old Messi early in his Barcelona career holding a baby for a charity calendar that was made almost 16 years ago. The baby in the photo is Yamal.
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