From Bath Time 19 Years Ago to a World Cup Final Clash

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As Argentina and Spain meet in the final, the special connection between Lionel Messi and the rising star Lamine Yamal is drawing renewed attention. The baby that Messi bathed 19 years ago has grown into a world-class player, and now they are set for a fateful showdown for the World Cup title.

Reporter Pyeon Gwanghyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

Back in 2007, a 20-year-old Messi with a youthful face carefully bathed a baby with bright, clear eyes.

The baby, then five months old, had the good fortune of meeting Messi after his parents entered and won a charity photo shoot event. It was as if he had been blessed, as he grew up following in Messi's footsteps.

Lamine Yamal, a left-footed player like Messi, went through the Barcelona youth system and broke Messi's record by making his first-team debut at the youngest age. He even inherited the number 10 jersey, a symbol of Messi, and at 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 list of youngest goalscorers in World Cup history.

And now, this coming Monday, they will face each other in the World Cup final, in a scenario that feels like fiction.

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 own childhood. 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 strong defensive organization, which has conceded only one goal in seven matches in this tournament, can contain Messi's instinct for deciding games.

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)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.