Messi is a win away from photo reunion with Lamine Yamal 19 years in the making

DUBAI: Lionel Messi is one victory away from one of the most remarkable reunions in World Cup history.

If Argentina defeat England in Wednesday’s semifinal, the 39-year-old captain will face Spain’s Lamine Yamal in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, 19 years after unknowingly bathing the 5-month-old during a Barcelona charity photoshoot.

The photograph has become one of football’s most recognizable images, but its significance today extends far beyond coincidence. It is a testament to Messi’s extraordinary longevity.

Few players remain among the world’s elite at 39. Fewer still are leading reigning world champions deep into a World Cup nearly two decades after first crossing paths with a future opponent as an infant.

Spain booked their place in Sunday’s final after a 2-0 victory over France, while Argentina are now one match away from setting up the first meeting between Messi and Yamal on a football pitch.

Before Spain’s semifinal, Yamal admitted he hoped Argentina would join La Roja in the final. In a World Cup questionnaire with Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona winger also revealed that the one player whose shirt he most wanted to swap was Messi.

For Messi, another World Cup semifinal represents far more than another opportunity to lift a trophy. He continues to redefine what is possible late in a footballer’s career.

While his game has naturally evolved, his influence has not. The explosive winger who once sprinted beyond defenders now controls matches through intelligence, timing and vision, choosing the moments that matter most.

Messi remains Argentina’s driving force. Against Egypt in the round of 16, he became the first player to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout matches before leading the defending