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Messi and Yamal to Face Off in World Cup Final After Viral Childhood Photo

How 5 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.

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First reported by N12 · 12 hours ago

What happened

A childhood photo of Lionel Messi holding a baby Anssumane Yamal has gone viral as the two prepare to face each other in the 2026 World Cup final, marking a historic meeting between the Barcelona legend and his potential successor. The image was taken during a 2007 charity event, and now both players represent Argentina and Spain respectively in a highly anticipated match.

01A 19-year-old photo shows Messi holding baby Yamal during a 2007 Barcelona charity shoot.
02The image resurfaced in 2024 after Yamal led Spain to Euro 2024 victory.
03Messi and Yamal will meet in the 2026 World Cup final representing Argentina and Spain.
04Messi aims for a second consecutive World Cup title, likely his last tournament.
05Yamal seeks to win back-to-back major trophies after Euro 2024.
06A planned Argentina-Spain match in Qatar was canceled due to Middle East conflicts.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

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