Could Lamine Yamal meet hero Lionel Messi in 'Finalissima'?

Champions of Europe and South America set to play each other in one-off match in summer of 2025

Spain players celebrate after beating England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on July 14, 2024. Getty Images

Spain captain Alvaro Morata celebrates with the trophy after their 2-1 win over England. AP

Spain celebrate after their victory. Reuters

Mikel Oyarzabal, right, celebrates with Nico Williams after scoring Spain's winner against England. AP

Jude Bellingham of England looks dejected as Spain's Dani Olmo and Daniel Carvajal celebrate. Getty Images

The Spanish players celebrate after the final whistle. PA

England's Harry Kane commiserates teammate Jude Bellingham after the match. PA

England manager Gareth Southgate applauds the fans after losing to Spain. Getty Images

Spain substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scores their second goal. Reuters

Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates scoring Spain's second goal. Getty Images

Mikel Oyarzabal finishes past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Getty Images

Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Nico Williams. Getty Images

England substitute Cole Palmer scores to make it 1-1 in 73rd minute. Getty Images

England's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring. Reuters

England's Cole Palmer finishes past Spain keeper Unai Simon. Reuters

Nico Williams celebrates after putting Spain 1-0 up in the 47th minute. Getty Images

Nico Williams celebrates after scoring for Spain. Getty Images

Nico Williams scores for Spain despite the attempted block from England defender Kyle Walker. Getty Images

Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal combined for Spain's opener. Getty Images

Nico Williams after scoring for Spain. Getty Images

England's Phil Foden has a shot on goal just before half-time that is saved by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon. Getty Images

England defender John Stones tackles Spain's Nico Williams. AP

England captain Harry Kane is shown a yellow card by referee Francois Letexier after a foul on Fabian Ruiz. Getty Images

England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo intercepts the ball. AP

Spain midfielder Rodri controls the ball. AP

Referee Francois Letexier books Dani Olmo of Spain for fouling England's Declan Rice. Getty Images

England's Bukayo Saka under pressure from Lamine Yamal of Spain. AFP

Spain's starting XI before the game. AP

England's starting XI before the match. AP

Spanish wunderkind Lamine Yamal could get the chance to line up opposite his hero Lionel Messi next summer – if the Argentina superstar prolongs his international career.

Yamal was instrumental as Spain won a record fourth European Championship on Sunday, supplying the pass for Nico Williams to open the scoring as La Roja beat England 2-1 in the Berlin final.

It capped an incredible individual tournament for the precocious 17-year-old Barcelona tyro, who celebrated his birthday a day before the final. During the month-long Euro 2024 in Germany, Yamal became the tournament's youngest player, goalscorer, finalist and was named best young player. He ended the tournament with one goal and four assists in seven games, emerging as the breakout star of the competition.

Across the Atlantic, Yamal's boyhood hero Messi was also celebrating.

Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 after extra time in Miami to capture a record 16th Copa America title.

Messi, who plays his club football with MLS side Inter Miami, had to watch from the bench as substitute Lautaro Martinez scored the goal that settled the match.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi had to be withdrawn midway through the second half with an ankle injury, leaving the field in tears.

Those soon turned to tears of joy though as Messi and Argentina collected a third-straight international title following their 2021 Copa triumph and the 2022 World Cup.

Messi, who just recently made headlines for doing a photoshoot with Yamal when he was just a few months old, could be passing the torch when the two countries play.

Here's everything to know about the Finalissima:

What is Finalissima?

The Finalissima (Italian for "grand final") is a one-off match between the winners of the European Championship and Copa America for another trophy.

When was the first Finalissima?

The first match was played in 1985 it what then called the European/South American Nations Cup.

It was also held in 1993 before being discontinued until the rebranded 2022 game that saw Messi and Argentina beat Euro 2020 winners Italy 3-0.

Who has won the most Finalissimas?

Argentina are two-time winners, having first beaten Denmark in 1993 before their most recent victory over Italy. In the first edition, Euro '84 winners France beat South American champions Uruguay 2-0.

When is the next Finalissima?

The next Finalissima is expected to be held in 2025. No date has been specified but it is almost certain to be held some time in the summer.

Will Yamal face Messi?

While Yamal's international career is just taking off, Messi's is most definitely closer to the end. At age 37, there are few things left for Messi to achieve in a glittering career that already has him earmarked as arguably the greatest player ever.

Two of Messi's teammates – Angel di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi, both 36 – announced their international teammates in the wake of their recent Copa triumph. Whether Messi follows them or decides to carry on remains to be seen.

Their paths have crossed before. Yamal's father, Mounir, recently posted a picture of a then 20-year-old Messi early in his Barcelona career holding a baby for a charity calendar that was made almost 16 years ago. The baby in the photo is Yamal.