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Lamine Yamal, the rising star of Spain, has expressed his wish to face Argentina in the World Cup final, admitting that he dreams of exchanging jerseys with football legend Lionel Messi. The Barcelona prodigy, however, emphasised that lifting the World Cup trophy remains his ultimate goal, keeping his focus firmly on team success rather than personal milestones.

Yamal reveals his ultimate ambition

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the young Barcelona winger and Spain international opened up about his aspirations in the tournament. The talented teenager shared that his ideal scenario would be a final showdown between Spain and Argentina. Beyond aiming to help La Roja reach the pinnacle, Yamal confessed that swapping shirts with Messi, a former Barcelona idol and one of football’s all-time greats, would be a dream come true.

The teenager’s clear target: Messi’s jersey

When asked about his favourite player to exchange shirts with at the tournament, Yamal didn’t hesitate, answering simply, “With Messi.”

In the same discussion, when questioned about which team he would most like to face in the final, the young winger of Moroccan heritage replied confidently: “Argentina.”

Yamal’s biggest World Cup surprise

The World Cup being held across North America has already delivered several unexpected storylines, with numerous teams and players impressing global audiences. When asked to name the biggest surprise of the competition so far, Yamal selected Moroccan forward Ismael Saibari. The 25-year-old, who completed a transfer from PSV to Bayern Munich during the tournament, scored in three consecutive matches and converted the winning penalty in Morocco’s shootout victory over the Netherlands. Sadly, Saibari suffered an injury against Canada, forcing him to miss the quarter-final defeat to France.

Upcoming challenges for the stars

Before any dream final can take place, Spain must first overcome Belgium in Friday’s quarter-final clash at Los Angeles Stadium. The Belgian side are unbeaten in their last 18 matches, making this a formidable test. For Yamal, the match also represents a chance to extend his record as the youngest Spanish player to start three World Cup knockout matches before turning 19.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and his Argentina team, currently on a 12-match winning streak, will take on Switzerland in their quarter-final at Kansas City Stadium on Sunday. Both sides are eyeing a place in the semi-finals, with fans worldwide hoping for the possibility of a Spain vs Argentina showdown later in the tournament.