The scene circled the world within minutes of the final whistle in East Rutherford: a 19-year-old world champion breaking off from Spain’s celebrations to find a defeated Lionel Messi, still on the pitch, and pulling him into an embrace. What was said stayed private for two months.
In an interview with the Guardian’s Sid Lowe, the Barcelona forward has now put words to the moment.
“I said thank you for everything you gave football. I don’t do things to look nice for the photo; that came from inside.”
Spain won the 2026 World Cup 1-0 after extra time on 19 July, with substitute Ferran Torres striking in the 106th minute after a Pedro Porro cross was headed back across goal by Nico Williams. Argentina finished with ten men, Enzo Fernández having been shown a second yellow card.
Read also: 114 of 115 charges proven. Guardiola's vow to stay through it outlasted his own tenure.
‘The future belongs to our generation’
Whatever Yamal wanted to say to Messi, the Argentina captain had something to give back. Yamal has said Messi’s answer is the part of the exchange that stays with him.
“He told me to keep going my way and that the future belongs to our generation.”
“Those words mean as much to me as the gold medal around my neck.”
The photo kept quiet for 17 years
In the same interview, Yamal also returned to the picture that has trailed his career since childhood: Messi bathing him as a baby during a 2007 UNICEF charity shoot. He explained why his father held it back for so long.
Read also: Arsenal and Real Madrid reportedly contact Haaland within 24 hours of City verdict
“Because I told him not to. He put it on Facebook once and I told him to take it down. Comparisons were too easy, that was all people would talk about.”
“I wanted to be Lamine; I didn’t want to be Messi.”
Messi’s international goodbye
Six weeks after the final, on 31 August, Messi announced his retirement from international football on Instagram. The 39-year-old had written the letter on 21 July, two days after the defeat in East Rutherford, but only shared it after the death of his father, Jorge, on 8 August.
“It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come,” Messi wrote.
Read also: Tonali rated 5 out of 10 as Italy lose at home to Belgium for first time since 1972
Messi finished with 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina, both national-team records, and continues at club level with Inter Miami.
Read also: Haaland locked in until 2034 as Man City dismiss relegation fears after 114-charge verdict
