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As Argentina and Spain are set to meet in the North and Central American World Cup final, the special connection between the two countries' superstars, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, has become a hot topic. Nineteen years ago, Messi bathed Yamal when he was just an infant, and now, Yamal has grown into a world-class player to compete against Messi for the championship.
Reporter Pyeon Gwanghyeon has the story.
[Reporter]
Back in 2007, a youthful 20-year-old Messi carefully bathed a baby with bright, clear eyes.
The baby, who was five months old at the time, had the good fortune of meeting Messi after his parents entered and won a charity photo shoot event. As if blessed, he grew up following in Messi's footsteps.
Lamine Yamal, a left-footer like Messi, went through the FC Barcelona youth system and broke Messi's record by becoming the youngest player to debut for the first team. He even inherited Messi's iconic number 10 jersey. In this World Cup, he found the back of the net at the age of 18 years and 343 days, pushing Messi down one spot in the all-time youngest World Cup goalscorer rankings.
And this coming Monday, in a scenario that feels like fiction, he will face Messi in the World Cup final.
This will be the first time the two players face each other on the pitch.
[Lionel Messi / Argentina National Football Team Forward: When I watch him play, it feels similar to my younger days. He is already one of the best in the world.]
[Lamine Yamal / Spain National Football Team Forward: Of course, I admire Messi, but I don't try to be compared to him. I am just trying to follow my own path.]
Spain, which conquered the European Championship two years ago, and Argentina, which won the South American Championship last year, will face off in the first-ever World Cup final between the champions of South America and Europe.
The key to the match will be whether Spain's powerful defensive organization, which has conceded only one goal in seven matches during this tournament, can contain Messi's instinct as a clutch player.
Ticket prices for the final have soared to as high as 110 million won, with an average of 20.3 million won, making it expected to be the most expensive sporting event in U.S. history.
(Video Editing: Ha Seong-won)
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