Lionel Messi (Left) will encounter a historical meet up with ‘baby’ Lamine Yamal this Sunday
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The football world is preparing for a symbolic reunion on Sunday as Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal finally meet on the grandest stage of all — the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
Nineteen years after a famous photograph showed a young Messi holding baby Yamal during a UNICEF event at Barcelona, the pair are now set to face each other as representatives of two footballing generations. The final, scheduled for Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, has been billed as a passing-of-the-torch moment between the established master and the rising prodigy.
Yet while Spain arrive with confidence and one of the tournament’s best defensive records, there is a growing feeling that the reunion may ultimately end in Argentina’s favour.
Grand history
The matchup itself is already historic. According to reports ahead of the final, defending champions Argentina will face Spain in a clash that pits the tournament’s most prolific attack against its most disciplined defence. Argentina have won all seven of their matches, while Spain have reached the final unbeaten with six wins and one draw.
For Messi, the occasion carries enormous emotional weight. The Argentine captain is seeking what could be the final defining chapter of his international career, while Argentina are chasing a fourth World Cup title and attempting to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy.
Yamal, meanwhile, represents the future. The teenage Spanish star has captivated the tournament with his maturity, creativity and fearlessness. But Sunday’s final may demand something different from brilliance: it may require the kind of experience, control and resilience that Argentina have repeatedly shown under pressure.
Argentina’s attacking rhythm
One of the strongest arguments for an Argentine victory is the team’s attacking rhythm. Argentina have scored 19 goals during the tournament, the highest tally among all finalists. Their route to the final has included victories built not only on individual moments from Messi, but also on collective movement from players such as Lautaro Martínez and Enzo Fernández.
Messi’s influence remains central. Reports ahead of the final noted that he assisted both Argentine goals in the semi-final victory over England, again proving that even when he is not scoring, he remains the team’s creative heartbeat.
Tactically, Argentina may also be better equipped for a final decided by small margins. Analysis ahead of the match has highlighted how Argentina often use decoy runners and compact midfield structures to create pockets of space for Messi. If Spain commit too many players to containing the captain, Argentina’s supporting attackers could exploit the gaps left behind.
Spain’s strength is undeniable. They have conceded only one goal throughout the tournament and have built their success on possession, pressing and collective balance. Yamal has been praised for his selfless role within that system, rather than simply relying on individual flair.
Momentum swings on display
But finals are rarely decided by style alone. They are often decided by composure in decisive moments.
That is where Argentina may hold the edge. This squad has already experienced the pressure of winning major finals. Messi and several senior players know what it takes to survive extra time, penalties and momentum swings on the world stage.
The memory of the 2022 World Cup final remains powerful. Argentina lifted the trophy after one of the greatest finals in history, with Messi delivering a defining performance. That experience could prove invaluable if Sunday’s match becomes tense, physical and unpredictable.
Psychological dimension
Spain, by contrast, are built around a younger core. Yamal has shown remarkable maturity for his age, but facing Messi and Argentina in a World Cup final is a different challenge from any he has encountered before.
There is also the psychological dimension. The reunion narrative has captured global attention because it feels almost cinematic: the veteran who once appeared beside Yamal as a baby now faces him as an opponent in the biggest match in football.
For Argentina, that story may serve as motivation rather than distraction. Messi is unlikely to view the final as a ceremonial handover. Everything about Argentina’s tournament suggests they are determined to defend their crown.
The midfield battle could be decisive. Spain will rely heavily on control, with players such as Rodri expected to shield the defence and dictate tempo. But Argentina’s midfield has shown an ability to disrupt rhythm and transition quickly into attack.
If Argentina can bypass Spain’s first line of pressure, Messi will become extremely dangerous between the lines. That is precisely the scenario Spain will try to avoid, because once Messi receives the ball facing goal, the entire defensive structure can be pulled apart.
Another factor is Argentina’s resilience. They have repeatedly shown that they can adapt to different types of matches — whether controlling possession, defending deep or striking on the counterattack.
Decisive moments
Spain may enjoy long spells of possession on Sunday, but Argentina have the players to punish even brief lapses in concentration. In a final, one moment of hesitation can decide everything.
None of this means Spain cannot win. Their unbeaten run, defensive solidity and youthful energy make them formidable opponents. Yamal is capable of producing a moment that changes the course of the match.
But when the arguments are weighed — tournament form, attacking output, experience in finals, Messi’s influence and Argentina’s proven resilience — the balance appears to tilt slightly towards the reigning champions.
The reunion between Messi and Yamal will dominate headlines, but the final may ultimately belong to Argentina as a team.
If Messi can once again find space, if Argentina can absorb Spain’s pressure, and if their experience tells in the decisive moments, Sunday’s World Cup final could end with the veteran lifting another trophy while the next generation waits for its turn.
May you experience happy moments long after the final whistle, no matter where the pendulum will swing.
