Lamine Yamal has opened up about the personal moment he shared with Lionel Messi at the end of the 2026 World Cup final, revealing that he used the occasion to thank the Argentine legend for his contributions to the game.

The Spain and Barcelona forward embraced Messi at the final whistle and took the opportunity to express his gratitude — telling the Argentina captain how much he had given to football over the course of his career.

The exchange offered a rare glimpse into a connection between two generations: Messi, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, and Yamal, the teenage sensation who has already announced himself as one of the sport's most exciting talents.