India, July 19 -- The FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday night promises a thrilling showdown between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. One is 39 years old, while the other is just 19. One has already won the World Cup, and one is yet to. The mutual respect is already there, and the summit clash at the New York-New Jersey Stadium promises to be a riveting affair. However, the association between Messi and Yamal goes back a long way, to the Argentine superstar's Barcelona days.

History always has an odd habit of hiding itself in plain sight, and sport is full of such moments. Football found one such moment when both Messi and Yamal made their way to the World Cup summit clash. Argentina came from behind to defeat ...