Spain winger Lamine Yamal has revealed that his dream scenario at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is to face defending champions Argentina in the final, with the opportunity to play against his idol, Lionel Messi.
Titansloaded reports that the Barcelona star made the revelation ahead of Spain’s quarter-final clash against Belgium, while Argentina prepare to take on Switzerland in another last-eight fixture as both nations continue their pursuit of World Cup glory.
Yamal admitted that one of his biggest ambitions at the tournament is to come up against Messi on football’s biggest stage and exchange jerseys with the Argentine captain after the match.
The 18-year-old, who has been one of Spain’s standout performers at the tournament, was asked which player he would most like to swap shirts with and did not hesitate in naming the Inter Miami superstar.
When further asked which country he hopes Spain would face if they qualify for the World Cup final, Yamal once again picked Argentina.
The prospect of a Spain versus Argentina final would also set up a highly anticipated meeting between one of football’s brightest young talents and one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
Spain will first have to overcome Belgium in the quarter-finals to keep their title hopes alive, while Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina must defeat Switzerland to book a place in the semi-finals.
Both teams remain among the favourites to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy, raising the possibility of the dream final Yamal has envisioned.
Should the two football powerhouses progress through the knockout stages, fans could witness a memorable showdown between the reigning world champions and one of Europe’s strongest sides.
