Messi praises Yamal as global icon ahead of Argentina-Spain World Cup final
Argentina captain Lionel Messi praised Spain winger Lamine Yamal as a global icon ahead of Sunday's World Cup final, saying he follows the 19-year-old closely because he plays for Barcelona, a club Messi loves. Speaking with Tom Brady on Friday, Messi said Yamal is one of the best players in the world right now and wished him all the best. Messi could become the first footballer to win back-to-back World Cup trophies as team captain, while Yamal could become the second-youngest player to win the final as a starter. The article notes related World Cup stories but focuses on Messi's message to Yamal.
SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/18/world-cup-i-follow-him-closely-messi-sends-message-to-lamine-yamal/