MASTER VS APPRENTICE: Inside Messi vs Yamal World Cup final 19 years on from infamous bath picture

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Full circle doesn't quite cut it. If you do not believe in destiny, perhaps you will now. Nineteen years ago, inside the away dressing room at Barcelona's Camp Nou, the first brick in the long-winding road to the 2026 World Cup final was laid.

Lamine Yamal's parents, mother Sheila Ebana from Equatorial Guinea and Moroccan-born father Mounir Nasraoui, optimistically entered a raffle published in Catalan newspaper Sport.

The prize? A photoshoot with a mystery player from Barca's first-team. Not only was Yamal the lucky winner but he was also paired with future great Messi, who cradled and bathed the five-month-old superstar in the making.

The famous shots, captured by snapper Joan Monfort, are so surreal they could be mistaken for artificial intelligence.

Just shy of two decades after being blessed by the GOAT, Yamal collides with his long-standing idol for a shot at World Cup glory in New Jersey. It's a script even the greatest fantasists will have struggled to write.

At the time of the remarkable photographs, genius Messi was just 19. He had scored 11 career goals and had already won both

La Liga

and the

Champions League

.

It was impressive but by comparison, Yamal, who coincidentally turned 19 on Monday, has blown that record out of the water.

The Spain wide gem has 56 goals to boot, won La Liga on three different occasions, and fired his country to European Championship supremacy in 2024.

Now he has the opportunity to move level with Messi regarding World Cup titles. It would cement his status as the heir to the 39-year-old icon's throne and represent a passing of the baton.

Do not discount the veteran, however, from extending his illustrious legacy. He has scored eight goals at this World Cup alone, registered four assists and single-handedly dragged Argentina within touching distance of retaining the trophy.

Before the dramatic midweek victory over England, Thomas Tuchel had described the irresistible forward as a silent killer.

It was a fitting description as Messi has walked 47 per cent of the total distance he has covered at this tournament.

He is averaging 8.2km per 90 minutes, the shortest tally of all outfield team-mates that have played more than 20 minutes at this World Cup.

Messi has even had fewer touches (43) than Yamal (51) in the opposition box, underlining his predatory instincts in the final third.

Both have made seven appearances and started six matches at this World Cup but Yamal has scored just once against Saudi Arabia and is yet to record an assist.

Meanwhile, the inspirational Argentina captain is averaging a goal involvement every 51 minutes, crushing his understudy.

Despite those statistics, victory for Spain would catapult Yamal's profile into a whole new stratosphere. Messi's stature speaks for itself but contrastingly, La Roja's fresh-faced teen has relished the opportunity to enjoy ordinary things outside of matches at this World Cup.

He was spotted shopping at Walmart in Fort Oglethorpe on the outskirts of Spain's Chattanooga training base earlier in the tournament while after the 2-0 semi-final scalp over France in Dallas, he strolled up to a street food stall in smoggy New York.

Yamal doesn't relish the limelight but if he triumphs in the World Cup final, the reality is, his life will quite simply never be the same again.

Messi is striving to sign off in style in what could potentially yet prove to be his last dance and final act as an Argentina player.

"Lamine is a great player, and I follow him a lot because he plays for a club I love," he said humbly. "I always wish him all the best, no doubts that he’s among the best in the

world

. We’ll try to play a great match, but I hope he and his team don’t have their best day."

Even Messi acknowledges that the pair's unlikely reunion defies all logic, stating: "That picture with Lamine, it’s something crazy. Life is full of surprises! Now we are facing each other in a final after a photo was taken of us when he was a baby, it’s just insane!"

Now Yamal has the chance to steal Messi's thunder. Some may feel the script has already been written. Expect the unexpected, blink and you will miss it.