The thrilling final reached its decisive climax in extra time when substitute Ferran Torres found the net to seal Spain's second world title, making 19-year-old Yamal a World Cup champion while bringing a heartbreaking end to 39-year-old Messi's illustrious international career. Amid the post-match celebrations, Yamal approached the emotional Argentine captain to embrace him. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Yamal disclosed that he told Messi: "I said thank you for everything you gave to football. I don't do things to look nice for the photo; that came from inside." Yamal also addressed the viral 2007 UNICEF calendar photograph showing a teenage Messi bathing him as an infant. The winger explained that he initially asked his father to remove the photo from social media to avoid constant public comparisons, emphasizing his desire to create his own identity rather than being framed as the next Messi.