How Lionel Messi's Barcelona Exit Set Up A Poetic World Cup Final With Lamine Yamal

Messi’s 2021 exit forced Barcelona to lean on La Masia, accelerating the rise of youngsters like Lamine Yamal (alongside Pedri and Gavi) and helping spark Spain’s recent resurgence.
Moving to Inter Miami restored Messi’s joy and closeness to the large Argentine community in Miami, which many say boosted his form and helped Argentina’s World Cup run.
Sunday’s Argentina vs Spain final reads like a Barcelona story — a ripple effect from Messi’s departure that shaped both nations’ paths to this matchup.