On 19/7, the Argentina and Spain national teams will step onto MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, US, to play the World Cup final. The two teams bring with them a series of intriguing coincidences.
MetLife Stadium and Messi's turning point
In 2016, after a defeat to Chile in the Copa America final via a penalty shootout at MetLife Stadium, Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the national team. However, he later reversed his decision.
Ten years later, MetLife Stadium is again hosting a World Cup final. The venue that once witnessed a somber milestone for Messi now becomes the place where he seeks his second world championship title.
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Messi and his Argentina teammates celebrate victory after their 2-1 win over England in the 2026 World Cup semifinal in Atlanta, US, on 15/7. *Photo: AP* |
A clash of two continental champions
World Cup history has never seen a Copa America champion face a European champion in a final vying for the world cup.
This March, the two reigning continental champions, Argentina (Copa America) and Spain (Euro), were scheduled to play in the Intercontinental Supercup (Finalissima). Organizers later announced the match's cancellation. However, their destined encounter did not end there.
Instead of the Intercontinental Supercup, the two teams will meet to decide the global champion in the 2026 World Cup final.
A 19-year photo reunion: two subjects face off
In the autumn of 2007, the family of a baby won a raffle organized by UNICEF and the newspaper Diario Sport. The prize was an opportunity to take a photo with Messi in the Camp Nou locker room. The infant in that photo was Lamine Yamal.
The 19/7 match marks the first time the person holding (Messi) and the baby who was held (Yamal) will play together on the same field, exactly 19 years after the photo was taken.
The number 19 switch
When the photo was taken in 2007, Messi wore the number 19 jersey for Barcelona before switching to the legendary number 10. Currently, Lamine Yamal also wears the number 19 jersey for the Spain national team and just turned 19 right before the World Cup semifinal. The evolution of their jersey numbers over time creates a symbolic symmetry.
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Luis de la Fuente (left) and Lionel Scaloni will engage in a tactical battle at the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on 19/7. *Photo: L'Equipe* |
A teacher-student showdown
On the sidelines, Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente once taught Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni at the Spanish Football Federation academy in 2017.
The two have maintained a close friendship for many years. In the upcoming final, the former student, Scaloni, will embark on a journey to defend his world title against his former instructor.
Commenting on these five strange coincidences, Forbes wrote, "The interwoven series of events creates an astonishing level of probability. This reality is compelling enough to attract both those who believe in spirituality and those who prefer pure logic."
Minh Phuong (According to Forbes)
