India, July 19 -- The 2022 final was supposed to be Lionel Messi's last World Cup match. He even said so himself after the semi-final against Croatia. But here we are, four years later, in another final, and La Pulga is still running the show. Everyone is now saying this will definitely be his last dance.

But Messi's last dance will be Lamine Yamal's first. A passing of the baton though it might not be in the way that pleases one of them.

While Messi didn't make a World Cup final until his third tournament, Spain's balance has ensured that the teenage prodigy, who hasn't been at his best so far, hasn't had to wait that long.

Yamal certainly won't be able to identify with the pain that drives Messi but that may give him the freedom to s...