"I respect him, in the end for what's he's been, for what he is to football, and if we ever meet on a pitch, there will be that mutual respect because we are players and because, for me, he's the best in history,"
"He also knows I am a player and I respect him, so it's mutual respect. We both know I don't want to be Messi and Messi knows I don't want to be him. I want to follow my path and that's it."
Spain and Argentina will compete in the Finalissima on March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the venue of Argentina's 2022 World Cup win. The match will feature European champions Spain against South American champions Argentina and will be the first on-pitch meeting between Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi. Argentina are the current holders after beating Italy 3-0 in 2022. The Finalissima has been staged four times, with France and Argentina among past winners. Yamal, 18, has faced Messi comparisons but says he wants to follow his own path; a 2007 photo shows Messi with a baby Yamal.
Read at ESPN.com
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