Argentina will meet Spain in the summit clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, July 20 (As per IST) at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. Ahead of the biggest game of the footballing season, all the talks are going about Lamine Yamal facing defending champions Argentina.
Lamine, who is considered to be the successor of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, as he plays at the same position and dons the iconic No.10 jersey. Now, Yamal is expected to play a pivotal role in the Spanish national team in the summit clash against Argentina.
Ahead of the final clash, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has opened up on the strategy to stop Lamine Yamal from making an influence in the game. While responding to the question, Scaloni expressed his wish of locking Yamal in a room so that Argentina can claim an easy win.
"How to stop Yamal? I wish we could lock him in his room! He’s amazing, a treasure, he's still so young, with so much more to offer. He did so much for Spain, we hope not on Sunday, but like Messi he's very difficult to stop," said Scaloni to DAZN.
Lamine Yamal's silent campaign at FIFA World Cup 2026
So far, Lamine Yamal has experienced a silent individual campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2026, scoring only one goal in the tournament. However, it would be wrong to say that Yamal hasn't been effective in any aspect of the game, as he contributed a lot in terms of creativity and displayed his maturity throughout the competition.
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Final made in La Masia
However, much of the attention will be focused on the highly anticipated duel between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. Nineteen years ago, Messi posed with an infant Yamal during a charity photoshoot, long before the teenage sensation emerged as Barca's latest star on the right wing, the same position once dominated by the Argentine icon.
The world cup final could produce one of the most poetic games in the history of sporting events. In what is expected to be Messi's final game for his national side, the football icon will come up against the young talent he famously held as a baby.