🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Lionel Messi describes facing Lamine Yamal in World Cup final as 'crazy' after baby photo resurfaces
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Argentina captain Lionel Messi expressed his astonishment at facing Spain's teenage star Lamine Yamal in the upcoming FIFA World Cup final, recalling an old photograph where he held Yamal as a baby. Messi, speaking ahead of the final, called the situation "incredible" and "crazy." He acknowledged Yamal's rapid ascent, describing the Barcelona youngster as one of the world's finest players despite his age, and wished him luck for his career, though hoping he would not perform at his best in the final. The famous photograph was taken by Spanish photographer Joan Monfort for a charity calendar organized by Sportnewspaper and UNICEF at Barcelona's Camp Nou. Monfort noted the image has gained renewed global attention ahead of the final. Messi enters the final in strong form, having scored eight goals and provided four assists, aiming for his third World Cup final appearance. The match also marks the first competitive meeting between the two continental champions after a planned Finalissima between Spain and Argentina was canceled earlier this year due to conflict in the Middle East.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
England and France will compete in the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off on Saturday. This match holds significance beyond the bronze medal, including the Golden Boot race and marking the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France coach. The game at Miami Stadium will be their first encounter since France's 2-1 victory in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. Both teams experienced semi-final defeats, with France losing 2-0 to Spain and England falling 2-1 to Argentina. Kylian Mbappé of France and Lionel Messi are tied with eight goals each in the Golden Boot race, while England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six goals apiece. France will be without defender William Saliba due to injury, with Maxence Lacroix expected to start. Theo Hernández will replace Lucas Digne at left-back, and Warren Zaïre-Emery and Rayan Cherki are anticipated to join the starting lineup. England faces injury concerns with Reece James and Jordan Henderson unavailable. Jude Bellingham's availability is uncertain pending a FIFA disciplinary decision, while Morgan Rogers and Kobbie Mainoo could make their first appearances. This will be Deschamps' final game as coach, having led France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final. A win would secure England's best-ever third-place finish, while France aims to maintain a perfect record in bronze-medal matches.
Must ReadArgentina head coach Lionel Scaloni described Lionel Messi as "pure history" and "a legend" during the FIFA Fanatics event in New York City. Scaloni urged fans to appreciate Messi, who is 39, as he prepares for what could be his final FIFA World Cup appearance. He compared Messi's ongoing presence to the late Diego Maradona, emphasizing Messi's historical significance. Argentina is set to face Spain in the World Cup final, aiming to defend their title. Scaloni acknowledged Spain as a formidable opponent, praising their disciplined play and expressing concern about their strength. He dismissed the idea that Argentina's previous World Cup final experience would give them an advantage, noting Spain's own experience in major finals. Scaloni highlighted that Argentina's success stems from their upbringing, focusing on playing football without succumbing to external pressure. Messi echoed these sentiments, stating that his childhood experiences of playing with passion and learning from losses shaped his mentality as a player and person.
Must ReadUS President Donald Trump threatened to increase tariffs on Canada to offset the costs incurred by the United States due to wildfire smoke pollution. Trump stated on Truth Social that the smoke, which has caused unhealthy air quality alerts across the US, is a result of Canada's "willful negligence" and failure to properly maintain forests. He accused Canada of not carrying out "basic Forest Management and Debris Removal" and indicated he would contact Prime Minister Mark Carney to address the issue. Canada's emergency management minister, Eleanor Olszewski, noted ongoing communication between the two countries and highlighted Canada's $12 billion investment in forest sustainability and fire prevention since 2020. As of Saturday, 937 active fires were burning in Canada, with most out of control. The smoke has led to cities like Detroit, Washington, and Chicago experiencing poor air quality, raising concerns for events such as the World Cup final in New Jersey. Experts like Chris Carlsten from the University of British Columbia noted the particular impact of fine pollution particles from wildfires on lungs and how photochemical aging can make traveling smoke plumes more toxic. Scientists also link the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires to climate change, which creates conditions for longer fire seasons with higher temperatures and lower soil moisture.