Sports
Messi says facing Lamine Yamal in World Cup final after iconic baby photo is ‘crazy’
Messi says facing Lamine Yamal in World Cup final after iconic baby photo is ‘crazy’
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has described it as “crazy” that he will face Spain teenage star Lamine Yamal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, nearly two decades after an iconic photograph captured him holding the future football sensation as a baby.
The highly anticipated final has become more than just a battle for football’s biggest prize. It also represents a symbolic meeting between one of the greatest players in history and a teenager widely tipped to dominate the game for years to come.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Messi reflected on the famous photograph, saying neither he nor anyone else could have imagined that the baby he held during a charity event at Barcelona’s Camp Nou would one day become his opponent in a World Cup final.
“That picture with Lamine is incredible. Now we are facing each other in a final after a photo was taken of us when he was a baby. It’s just crazy,” Messi said.
The image, taken in 2007 by Spanish photographer Joan Monfort, was part of a UNICEF charity calendar organized alongside Barcelona-based newspaper SPORT. Yamal’s family had won a raffle that paired the infant with a then-20-year-old Messi for the photoshoot inside Camp Nou.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Spain teenage star Lamine Yamal as a baby
The photograph remained largely unnoticed for years before resurfacing in 2024 after Yamal’s father shared it on social media during the youngster’s breakthrough season. Since then, it has become one of football’s most iconic images, symbolizing the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
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Despite expressing admiration for Yamal’s remarkable rise, Messi made it clear that friendship and sentiment would be put aside once the final kicks off.
“We’ll try to put on a good match, but I hope he and his team don’t put on a good one,” the Argentine captain joked.
Messi also described the Barcelona winger as one of the best footballers in the world despite being only 19 years old.
“He’s one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success, but we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best. Spain has a great team, not just him. We have our own weapons too.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said Yamal has all the qualities needed to enjoy a long and successful career at the highest level.
“He’s a tremendous player. A global star. He’s 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him. I wish him the best, but we’ll give it our all to ensure he doesn’t become champion this time.”
Sunday’s showdown has been widely described as a clash between football’s past, present and future.
Messi, now 39, is aiming to guide Argentina to back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles after leading the Albiceleste to glory in Qatar four years ago. He enters the final in outstanding form, having scored eight goals and provided four assists during the tournament, while remaining tied with France captain Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.
For Yamal, the final marks another milestone in an extraordinary rise that has seen him become one of Europe’s brightest stars. After helping Spain win UEFA Euro 2024, the Barcelona forward has continued his impressive development, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young talents in world football.
Football fans across the globe are eagerly anticipating the contest, not only because of the quality of both teams but also because of the unique story connecting Messi and Yamal.
The meeting between Argentina and Spain also carries added significance after the planned Finalissima between the Copa América and European champions was cancelled earlier this year due to the conflict in the Middle East.
As a result, Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final will serve as the first competitive meeting between the two continental champions, adding another fascinating layer to an already historic occasion.
For photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the unforgettable image nearly two decades ago, seeing Messi and Yamal now competing for football’s biggest prize feels almost surreal.
“The photo has exploded all over the world. Now this has culminated in the final between Messi and Yamal. It is better than any film script,” Monfort said.
With one iconic photograph connecting their past and the FIFA World Cup final set to define another chapter in football history, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal as they battle for global glory.
Messi says facing Lamine Yamal in World Cup final after iconic baby photo is ‘crazy’
Sports
Ex-Super Eagles Coach Westerhof Battles Colon Cancer in Critical Condition, Wife Seeks Help
Ex-Super Eagles Coach Westerhof Battles Colon Cancer in Critical Condition, Wife Seeks Help
Former Super Eagles coach Clemens Westerhof has been diagnosed with colon cancer and is reportedly in critical condition at a hospital in the Netherlands, prompting his wife to appeal for prayers and assistance.
Westerhof, 86, is receiving treatment at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, his hometown, according to his wife, Lilian, who disclosed the development in an interview with Vanguard’s Saturday Editor, Onochie Anibeze.
Lilian said doctors informed the family of the cancer diagnosis after Westerhof was taken to the hospital on Wednesday. She described the news as devastating and expressed concern about his condition.
“The doctor just told us he has colon cancer and we are all devastated. He is in a critical condition and emotional, talking about our two daughters. He wants to live. We need help. We need prayers,” she said.
The diagnosis comes as the former Nigerian national team coach continues to face other health challenges. According to his wife, Westerhof had previously been battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Lilian also expressed concern about the care her husband was receiving at the Arnhem hospital, saying she hoped to transfer him to a better-equipped medical facility in Amsterdam or Germany.
“They appear to have given up. I don’t understand,” she said, describing her concerns about his treatment.
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Westerhof remains one of the most influential coaches in the history of Nigerian football, having led the Super Eagles through a celebrated period in the early 1990s.
The Dutch tactician took charge of Nigeria’s national team in 1989 and helped build a squad that became one of Africa’s most prominent sides. Under his leadership, Nigeria finished second at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Algeria and won bronze at the 1992 tournament in Senegal.
His greatest achievement with the team came in 1994, when Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. That same year, he guided the Super Eagles to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, held in the United States.
Nigeria reached the round of 16 at the World Cup before being eliminated by Italy after extra time. The team’s performances during Westerhof’s tenure also helped it rise to fifth in the FIFA world rankings, a landmark achievement for Nigerian and African football.
His contribution to the development of the Super Eagles earned him a lasting place in the country’s football history, with many fans remembering the team’s attacking style and the emergence of several players who became household names.
News of Westerhof’s diagnosis is likely to concern Nigerian football supporters who remember his role in the national team’s successes during the 1990s.
As the former coach receives treatment in the Netherlands, his family is seeking support and prayers while expressing hope that he can access the care they believe he needs.
Ex-Super Eagles Coach Westerhof Battles Colon Cancer in Critical Condition, Wife Seeks Help
Sports
Real Madrid Demand Tebas’ Exit After Explosive Nazi Propaganda Row
Real Madrid Demand Tebas’ Exit After Explosive Nazi Propaganda Row
Real Madrid have demanded the immediate resignation of Javier Tebas as president of LaLiga and vice-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), escalating their dispute with the Spanish football chief over comments comparing the club’s communication methods to Nazi-era propaganda techniques.
The Spanish giants issued a strongly worded statement on Friday, October 16, describing Tebas’ remarks as offensive, unacceptable and incompatible with the responsibilities of his positions in Spanish football.
The latest confrontation followed comments by Tebas in which he compared the methods employed by Real Madrid’s management and its television channel, Real Madrid TV, to propaganda techniques associated with Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister under Nazi Germany.
Tebas argued that he was comparing communication methods rather than endorsing or referring to Nazi ideology. However, Real Madrid rejected the explanation, insisting that the comparison remained deeply offensive and inappropriate for someone occupying senior positions in the sport.
The club accused Tebas of repeatedly attacking its leadership, president Florentino Pérez and its media outlets, arguing that his public statements demonstrated a lack of neutrality, respect and impartiality.
Real Madrid also objected to what it described as attempts to attribute the actions and opinions of third parties to the club, insisting that it should not be held responsible for statements made by journalists or other individuals.
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The dispute has also drawn attention to the long-running controversy surrounding the Negreira case, which concerns payments made by FC Barcelona to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees.
Real Madrid said it had approached UEFA to seek clarification over the payments and called for measures to protect the integrity of football competitions. The payments have been the subject of legal scrutiny, but allegations of improper influence over refereeing must be distinguished from any conduct established by a court.
The club further called for a comprehensive overhaul of Spain’s refereeing system and football governance structures, including changes involving officials who held positions of responsibility during the period under scrutiny.
In its statement, Real Madrid argued that Tebas should focus on promoting transparency and addressing concerns about football governance rather than directing criticism at the club.
The club maintained that his repeated public attacks had undermined confidence in his ability to lead LaLiga impartially and serve the interests of all its member clubs.
The demand marks another escalation in the strained relationship between Real Madrid and Tebas, who has led LaLiga since 2013. The two sides have repeatedly clashed over refereeing, the league’s administration, broadcasting rights and the future direction of Spanish football.
Real Madrid had also called for Tebas to leave his position in September after he criticised the club’s complaints about refereeing following its 2-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the city derby.
On that occasion, Tebas dismissed claims of systematic refereeing bias against Real Madrid, while the club accused him of using his institutional position to discredit its concerns.
The latest dispute has broadened the disagreement beyond match officiating to include the conduct expected of football administrators and the standards of public communication in the sport.
Real Madrid said Tebas’ statements and conduct disqualified him from continuing in his current positions and formally demanded his immediate resignation as both LaLiga president and RFEF vice-president.
The demand does not automatically remove Tebas from either role, and no resignation was announced in the club’s statement.
The confrontation leaves relations between the Spanish football authorities and one of the country’s most prominent clubs under renewed strain, with the debate over neutrality, refereeing transparency and institutional accountability likely to continue.
Real Madrid Demand Tebas’ Exit After Explosive Nazi Propaganda Row
Sports
Yamal Inspires Barcelona Comeback to Sink Osimhen’s Galatasaray
Yamal Inspires Barcelona Comeback to Sink Osimhen’s Galatasaray
Barcelona delivered a stunning second-half performance to defeat Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, October 13, 2026, recovering from an early setback to silence the home crowd in Istanbul.
The Spanish giants fell behind in the first half but responded with four goals to secure an emphatic victory at RAMS Park, extending their winning run across all competitions to 10 matches.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen played the full 90 minutes for Galatasaray but failed to score as Barcelona overturned the deficit with an impressive attacking display led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Galatasaray took the lead in the 28th minute when Aleksey Batrakov finished off a counterattack initiated by Rafael Leão. His effort took a deflection off João Cancelo before beating Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García.
The Turkish champions appeared poised to extend their advantage when Osimhen threatened from a corner, but a subsequent goal was ruled out for offside following a video assistant referee review.
Barcelona capitalised on the reprieve and restored parity shortly before half-time. In the 43rd minute, Cancelo collected a pass from Dani Olmo inside the penalty area and curled a superb finish into the far corner.
The equaliser transformed the contest, and Barcelona returned from the break with renewed intensity.
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In the 50th minute, Yamal delivered an excellent cross that Fermín López headed into the net to put the visitors ahead for the first time.
Just three minutes later, Yamal produced another decisive contribution, creating the opportunity for Anthony Gordon to score Barcelona’s third goal and put the visitors firmly in control.
Gordon, who was making his first Champions League start for Barcelona, recovered from an earlier missed opportunity to find the net and extend the lead.
Barcelona completed the scoring in the 65th minute when substitute Karim Adeyemi fired home after coming off the bench, putting the result beyond Galatasaray’s reach.
Yamal’s two assists proved crucial to the comeback, with the young winger repeatedly exposing the home side’s defence after the interval. His performance earned him the Man of the Match recognition in Flashscore’s report of the encounter.
Osimhen, meanwhile, endured a frustrating evening as Galatasaray struggled to respond to Barcelona’s attacking pressure. The Nigerian forward had opportunities to threaten the visitors but could not find the breakthrough needed to revive his team’s hopes.
The defeat leaves Galatasaray without a point after their opening two matches in the Champions League league phase, increasing the pressure on the Turkish side ahead of their next European fixture.
Barcelona, by contrast, have collected six points from their first two matches after opening their campaign with a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord.
The result strengthens the Spanish club’s position in the early Champions League standings and provides another indication of their attacking strength under manager Hansi Flick.
Barcelona will next face Paris Saint-Germain in a potentially decisive European test, while Galatasaray are scheduled to visit Lille on October 21 as they seek to recover from their difficult start.
For Osimhen and his teammates, the immediate challenge will be to address their defensive shortcomings and regain momentum before their next European outing.
Yamal Inspires Barcelona Comeback to Sink Osimhen’s Galatasaray
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