During Messi's early days at Barcelona, he posed alongside Yamal, who was five months old at the time, in a now-famous image that was part of a charity photoshoot organised by UNICEF and Spanish newspaper Sport.

Now, in what will likely be Messi's final FIFA World Cup match with Argentina, Yamal will attempt to prevent the 39-year-old from lifting football's most iconic trophy for a second time.

Ahead of Argentina's clash with Spain in New Jersey, Messi appeared at a FIFA event in New York, where he was asked about the photo.

"That photo is incredible. The fact that we're both playing in the [FIFA] World Cup now is crazy," Messi said.

"He's one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona's success.

"We'll try to keep him from playing at his best. Spain have a great team, not just him.

"He's a tremendous player – a global star. He's 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him.

"I wish him the best, but we'll give it our all to ensure he doesn't become champion this time."

If both Messi, who was born June 1987, and Yamal, who was born July 2007, start the final, it will be the first time in FIFA World Cup history that a final has seen starters on opposite sides separated in age by at least 20 years, 20 years and 19 days in the case of this pair.

With eight goals and four assists to his name at this tournament, Messi is in contention for both the golden boot and golden ball awards, although Kylian Mbappe's double against England in France's 6-4 defeat in the third-place play-off has added a little pressure for Messi.

Yamal has scored only one goal, against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, and has yet to provide an assist, a disappointing return but perhaps owed to the fact he came to the tournament far from fully fit with a hamstring issue.

Midfielder Mikel Merino, who came off the bench to score the winning goals in Spain's knockout victories over Portugal and Belgium, was also asked about the photo, responding: "The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn't even real.

"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.

"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."