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Your Breakout World Cup Star Erling Haaland Took Home a Taxidermy Raccoon, Because Why Not
You might need some extra time to wrap your head around this 2026 World Cup twist.
Lionel Messi and Argentina have scored their way to the championship match against Spain July 19 after three consecutive games with stunning, late-in-the-match wins. But even more striking than their possible back-to-back title is the apparent destiny of Messi facing off against Spain’s new prodigy: 19-year-old Lamine Yamal.
That’s because back in 2007 the pair were photographed together for a charity calendar when Yamal—born and raised just outside of Barcelona—was a 6-month-old baby and Messi was an up-and-coming 19-year-old playing for FC Barcelona. (In another twist of fate, Yamal now plays for FC Barcelona himself while Messi plays for MLS Club Inter Miami CF.)
And for detractors calling for a red card on the photo’s authenticity, it is 100 percent real, UNICEF, which sponsored the calendar, confirmed.
During the shoot, Barca players posed with local children who won their appearances in a raffle and Messi just so happened to be randomly paired with Yamal for the January photo, which featured Messi bathing Yamal in a small plastic tub.
Now that Messi and Yamal—respectively considered to be one of the best to ever play soccer and his possible heir apparent—are set to face off in the World Cup final, even their respective teammates are stunned by their past connection.
“The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn’t even real,” Yamal’s teammate Mikel Merino told reporters July 17. “It’s unbelievable that two of the best players to have played the game—and hopefully Lamine, in the future, will be one of those—share a picture like that.”
AP Photo/Joan Monfort
The midfielder added, “Hopefully we’re going to see a very bright final with those two protagonists at their best, playing and giving all the fans a great spectacle.”
Meanwhile, the photographer who snapped the pic, Joan Monfort, can’t help but feel like he scored a golden goal by capturing moment.
“I have never been a believer or thought that anything was destined to occur,” he told the Associated Press in an interview published July 17, “but I am beginning to have my doubts. This is beyond all reasonable explanations.”
As he put it, “And now this has culminated with the final between Messi and Yamal. It is better than any film script.”
Messi and Yamal meet once more when the 2026 World Cup final takes place on July 19.
Though Messi and Yamal’s lore runs deep at the 2026 World Cup, they aren’t the only stars who took North America by storm during the tournament. Keep reading to see more notable athletes who competed…
Eric Alonso/Getty Images
Lamine Yamal
Age: 19
World Cup Team: Spain
Current Soccer Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)
Position: Midfielder
Don't let Yamal's age fool you. In just two years since his debut, the Spaniard already has a UEFA European Football Championship under his belt. He was also the runner-up for the Ballon d'Or—also known as the "Golden Ball," an award recognizing the best soccer player of the year—in 2025.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images
Lionel Messi
Age: 39
World Cup Team: Argentina
Current Soccer Club: Inter Miami CF (United States)
Position: Forward
History has its eyes on Messi, who is the most decorated player in the world of soccer. Not only is he the defending World Cup champion, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is on the cusp of becoming the first player to win back-to-back World Cups as the captain of his national team.
Clicks Images/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 41
World Cup Team: Portugal
Current Soccer Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia)
Position: Forward
There's a reason why Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest players of all time. After all, he's scored over 970 goals in his career so far and shows no signs of stopping. He scored at least 100 goals while playing with each of his former clubs—Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus—as well as over 130 goals with his national team.
Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Harry Kane
Age: 32
World Cup Team: England
Current Soccer Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Position: Forward
Known as one of the best strikers of his generation, Kane is serving as the captain of England's national team for the third consecutive World Cup. In fact, the London native scored the winning goal at the team's warm-up match against New Zealand on June 6.
Stefan Matzke - sampics/Getty Images
Jamal Musiala
Age: 23
World Cup Team: Germany
Current Soccer Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Position: Midfielder
Ever since kicking off his professional soccer career at age 16, Musiala has been nicknamed "Bambi" for his graceful movements on the pitch. He made his World Cup debut at the 2022 tournament.
Heuler Andrey/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Neymar
Age: 34
World Cup Team: Brazil
Current Soccer Club: Santos FC (Brazil)
Position: Forward
Born Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, the mononymous sensation is his home country's all-time leading scorer after surpassing Pelé's 52-year record in 2023. He's looking to lead his team back to World Cup glory for the first time since 2002.
Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images
Luka Modric
Age: 40
World Cup Team: Croatia
Current Soccer Club: AC Milan (Italy)
Position: Midfielder
Considered Croatia's greatest soccer player, Modric captained the nation's team to a third-place victory at the 2018 World Cup. He also holds the record for most caps for Croatia, playing for the country more than 190 times on the international stage.
Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Kylian Mbappe
Age: 27
World Cup Team: France
Current Soccer Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Forward
Mbappe took home the World Cup when he made his debut in 2018. And after coming close in 2022, with Argentina defeating France in a penalty shoot-out, the Frenchman is undoubtedly entering this year's competition with fire in his belly.
Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images
Vinicius Junior
Age: 26
World Cup Team: Brazil
Current Soccer Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Forward
Born Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, the Brazilian soccer superstar was crowned The Best FIFA Men’s Player and runner-up to the Ballon d'Or in 2024. In his second World Cup appearance, Vini Jr. is hoping to end Brazil's 24-year wait for the trophy.
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