The notable moment unfolded after the final whistle at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, on 9/6. Messi lingered to chat with an Iceland player for a considerable time, their friendly gestures sparking curiosity among fans about the young player's identity.

Messi converses with Daniel Tristan Gudjohnsen after Argentina's 3-0 friendly win against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, United States, on 9/6. *Screenshot*

Daniel Tristan Gudjohnsen, son of former Iceland forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, was the one who initiated the conversation with Messi. After the match, the Argentina captain admitted he did not recognize Daniel.

"He asked if I remembered who he was," Messi recounted. "I was quite surprised when he said he was Gudjohnsen's son. To be honest, I did not remember, because Daniel was very young then. I only recalled meeting him a few times when he accompanied his father to training sessions."

Messi converses with Daniel Tristan Gudjohnsen.

Eidur Gudjohnsen played alongside Messi at Barca from 2006-2009, during which they won a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups, a Champions League, and a UEFA Super Cup. They were both part of the Barca squad under coach Pep Guardiola that achieved the historic sextuple in 2009.

Eidur joined the Catalan club in 2006, the same year Daniel was born. Now 20, Daniel plays as a forward for Malmo in the Swedish National League. He came on for the final 7 minutes in the match against Argentina.

Daniel's connection to Messi extends beyond his father's friendship with the Argentine superstar. The Iceland forward also trained at Barca's La Masia academy from 2015-2018, when Messi was still playing for the first team. Daniel was 9 to 12 years old then.

Eidur Gudjohnsen, Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi (from left) celebrate the 2009 Champions League title. *AFP*

Beyond Daniel, Eidur Gudjohnsen has two other sons pursuing football careers. Andri Gudjohnsen is currently a forward for Blackburn Rovers in the Championship (England), while his eldest brother, Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen, plays in Italy.

The Eidur Gudjohnsen family's football tradition spans generations, with Eidur's father and a younger brother also having been professional players.

Eidur himself is one of Iceland's greatest football icons. He was the first player from this Nordic nation to win the Champions League. After retiring from the national team in 2013, Gudjohnsen returned in 2015 and participated in Euro 2016, where Iceland reached the quarterfinals. At 38, he continued to play in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, helping Iceland secure their first-ever World Cup berth as group winners. However, Gudjohnsen was not in the squad for the World Cup in Russia, where Iceland made history by drawing 1-1 with Argentina in their opening match.

At club level, Eidur also played for notable teams such as Chelsea, Monaco, and Tottenham, in addition to Barca, before retiring at Pune City (India) in 9/2017 due to injury.

Messi scores a penalty against Iceland.

In the 3-0 win against Iceland, Messi entered the field in the 69th minute and scored a penalty in less than two minutes. Argentina had a perfect warm-up for the 2026 World Cup, where they are in a group with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

Compiled by Hong Duy