Lionel Messi praised Spain youngster Lamine Yamal ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final but made it clear that Argentina will do everything to prevent him from making history.The defending champions will face European champions Spain this Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Yamal is looking to add another milestone to his growing career. Messi acknowledged the teenager’s rise but said Argentina’s priority was to ensure the historic moment did not come at their expense.“Lamine is amazing,” Messi said. “I mostly follow him because he plays for a club that I love a lot. He has a chance to achieve something historic – we will try to make sure that doesn’t happen this season.”Messi spoke with seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest on Friday, where he also reflected on one of the most talked about football photos in recent days.The picture, taken nearly two decades ago, shows a 20-year-old Messi bathing baby Yamal during a promotional charity photo shoot in Barcelona. The picture has gone viral again ahead of Sunday’s final as the two will face each other on football’s biggest stage.“That photo with Lamine, now we face a final after the photo was taken when he was young,” Messi said. “It’s just crazy.”The photo was taken by freelance photographer Joan Monfort, who admitted that she had no idea of its significance when she clicked it.Almost two decades ago, Monfort photographed the teenage Messi bathing a boy in a plastic bathtub during a charity calendar shoot. Years later, that child grew up to be Spanish artist Lamine Yamal.Now the images have become one of the biggest talking points ahead of the World Cup final between Messi’s Argentina and Yamal’s Spain.“I’ve never believed or thought anything was destined to happen, but I’m starting to have doubts. It goes beyond all reasonable explanations,” Monfort told The Associated Press from his home in Barcelona on Friday.While the photo captured the imagination of football fans, Messi’s focus remained firmly on Sunday’s finale.The Argentina captain said he has been closely following Yamal’s progress, especially since the teenager currently plays for Barcelona, the club where Messi spent 21 years between 2000 and 2021.Messi, however, hopes that the 19-year-old will not be able to produce another memorable performance in the final.“We will try to put on a good game, but I hope that he and his team will not put on a good game,” said Messi.Both players have a history to achieve.Messi will become the first player to win back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles as captain, while Yamal will become the second youngest player to start and win a World Cup final.After their respective semifinal victories, defending champion Argentina and European champions Spain will meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final this Sunday.