Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated that the time has come for Lamine Yamal to become the club's new leading figure and emphasized the young talent's readiness to perform on football’s biggest stages.
On the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Laporta reflected on Lionel Messi’s extraordinary legacy at Barcelona and explained why he believes Lamine is the player capable of carrying the club’s identity into a new generation.
“I believe now is Lamine’s moment. I want this to be Lamine’s moment. Messi has given us years of glory; he is part of the glorious and splendid past of our history,” Laporta said.
When asked about the famous photograph of Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal during a Barcelona Foundation charity calendar shoot, Laporta said, “We’re very proud of our Foundation, and it just so happened — I believe either by chance or divine providence — that Messi was giving Lamine a bath. It’s incredible. Reality surpasses fiction.”
Despite the enormous pressure surrounding the World Cup final, Laporta believes Lamine possesses the personality needed to perform under such circumstances. He described Lamine as a genius who doesn’t flinch in the face of big events, faces challenges head-on, and is very mature for his age.
“I believe and hope tomorrow will be Lamine’s match, that he’ll make his mark, because that’s the way of football. There are players who become the benchmark at certain times, and now it’s time for a change,” Laporta added.
Additionally, Laporta highlighted La Masia’s impact, noting that nine current or former graduates will feature in the 2026 World Cup final, including Yamal, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, and Messi.
