Officially confirmed: Yamal to face Messi for the Finalissima championship date set

The scheduling of the Finalissima final between Spain and Argentina has made this clash a worldwide focal point, where Lamine Yamal will meet Lionel Messi for the first time on the field.

After a long wait, the European and South American football federations have officially finalized the schedule for the Finalissima match between EURO champions Spain and Copa America champions Argentina, expected to take place on March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

This stadium holds a special place in football history, being the venue where Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, and it also symbolizes the clash between two leading football continents.

Finalissima is an intercontinental "Super Cup" revived since 2021, but this will be only the fourth time the tournament has been held in history. Argentina is the most successful team with two titles, most recently a 3-0 victory over Italy at Wembley in 2022, a match where Lionel Messi made a mark with two assists.

Previously known as the Artemio Franchi Cup, where France won in 1985 and Argentina triumphed in 1993 after a penalty shootout against Denmark.

The biggest highlight of the upcoming Finalissima is the first-ever career encounter between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi. On one side is Spain’s brightest young talent, fresh from winning the European Championship with La Roja; on the other is the legendary icon of Argentine and world football, currently playing for Inter Miami CF.

At 18 years old, Yamal is often compared to Messi because both grew up at Barcelona, play on the right wing, are left-footed, and wear the number 10 jersey.

However, Yamal has repeatedly stated that he does not want to live in the shadow of the legend. “I respect him for what he has done and continues to do for football. If we meet on the field, it will be mutual respect between players. To me, he is the greatest in history,”Yamal shared. He also emphasized: “I don’t want to be Messi. I just want to follow my own path,”as a way to assert his own identity amid huge expectations.

Though this is their first face-off on the pitch, the connection between these two names dates back a long time. In 2007, Messi took a photo with Yamal when he was a baby for a charity calendar, a moment that resurfaced strongly during EURO 2024. Additionally, there are photos showing Yamal with Messi at Barcelona’s training center, with one still in the academy and the other a first-team star.

This Finalissima takes place just months before the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, where both Spain and Argentina are considered top contenders. Therefore, the match at Lusail is not just about a trophy but also serves as a crucial test and a symbolic generational crossover moment between Messi and Yamal.