It’s not a Messi vs Yamal rivalry in World Cup final, young Spanish star has a lot to show: Kahn

MUMBAI: (Jul 17) Legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has dismissed suggestions that Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final is a battle between Lionel Messi and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, saying the two are at completely different stages of their careers.

The defending champions Argentina will take on Spain in search of their fourth World Cup title and a second consecutive when they clash in New York.

“There’s no rivalry and no duel between these two guys because there’s one player who is 40 and the other one is 19 (years-old). Messi is the big role model of Yamal, both are very interesting (and they) both come from the same academy,” Kahn, a member of the Zee 5 expert panel on the World Cup, told reporters.