Twenty-six years ago, when a 13-year-old Lionel Messi left his beloved Rosario and arrived in Barcelona for his trial to join La Masia academy, with the hopes of sealing a move that could change his life, no one could predict the impact of that moment. Not only did it eternally change Messis life and the footballing landscape as a whole, but it also created a butterfly effect that transformed the entire fate of a club, a nation and the way Messi and Barcelona became the greatest partnership in modern football history.Â
But his departure in 2021 from the club, which sent shock waves around the world, caused a seismic impact on so many tangible factors that forced Barcelona to act.
As a result, from a fatalistic standpoint, Messis departure from Barcelona â and his eventual arrival to Inter Miami after a disappointing tenure with Paris Saint-Germain â became a huge factor in what we are currently witnessing: the continued gritty dominance of Argentina and the jaw-dropping depth of Spain, including the rapid rise of its star player, Lamine Yamal.
Sundays World Cup final, therefore, has a chapter deeply embedded in its theme â and thats the role of Barcelona.
Messis exit from Barcelona was a result of financial instability and terrible mismanagement, where the clubs huge debt impeded it from signing the superstar due to La Ligas financial fairness regulations. After 21 years, with heavy emotion, Messi left the club and joined PSG.
Through the years in the aftermath, Barcelona needed to make the best of its most important asset: the aforementioned academy, as La Masia, the place which nurtured Messi, would have to come to the rescue once again.
Since Messis departure, at least 15 different graduates from La Masia have featured heavily for Barcelona, including Yamal, who arrived on the senior team in the 2022-23 season under then-manager Xavi.Â
Yamal aside, this acceleration of young Spanish talents now infiltrates La Roja with the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Pau CubarsÃ, Eric GarcÃa and Dani Olmo, all of whom are very important for the national team and a reason why Spains dominance has catapulted.
Yamal especially. His arrival to Barcelonas first team and Spain was sorely needed as he injected a vital, creative spark that had been missing. Yamal is a confident young superstar. A brand-new mold of star, full of swagger and without any inhibition regarding his game. He knows exactly who he is and, thanks to his success with club and country, as well as the guidance of his managers, Hansi Flick and Luis de la Fuente, he has persevered.
There does remain a worry about minute management and the concern that perhaps these young stars are being worn down. Lets remember, it was in this World Cup that Yamal had only just returned to full fitness as his first full match was in the round of 16 against Portugal. And since then, he hasnt looked back. Â
On Sunday, when he enters the pitch in New Jersey, he will become the third-youngest mens player to enter a World Cup final behind Pelé and the Italian Giuseppe Bergomi.
Then theres Lionel Messi, who, at 39, is looking to once again
