Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has revealed that a conversation with Lionel Messi after the World Cup final remains one of the most memorable moments of his career.
According to ESPN on July 21, 2026, the Spain international said he approached Messi to greet and console him after the final, where the pair shared a warm embrace.
Yamal said the Argentine captain encouraged him to keep pushing and expressed confidence in the next generation of footballers.
“Messi told me to keep going and said our generation holds the future. His words mean even more to me than the gold medal around my neck. I will treasure them forever and always remember Lionel,” Yamal said.
The 19-year-old added that although Messi was disappointed at missing the chance to end his international career with another World Cup title, he was pleased to see emerging talents succeed and remained optimistic about the future of football.
Yamal described receiving an individual award at the tournament as a special achievement but said his exchange with Messi after the final was the moment he would cherish the most throughout his career.
