World Cup Final Features Players with 20-Year Age Gap for First Time

Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Spain winger Lamine Yamal are both starting in the 2026 World Cup final, marking a historic first for the tournament. This is the first time players from opposing teams with an age difference of over 20 years have featured in a World Cup final.

Messi was born on June 24, 1987, while Yamal's birthday is July 13, 2007. The age gap between them is precisely 20 years and 19 days.