Arguably the greatest soccer player ever could have had a very different story.

An extraordinary photograph is making the rounds on social media in the days before the World Cup final Sunday.

Yamal returned to training with the rest of the squad on Friday “completely normally,” with De la Fuente concluding: “He’s fine—there are no issues with him; he’s in perfect physical condition.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The spotlight on Sunday’s World Cup final will shine brightest on two men, one playing the last game of his sixth tournament and the other the final game of his first.

Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal go head to head in Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, 19 years after their first meeting was captured in a remarkable series of photographs by Joan Mon...

“Lamine is a huge talent, someone I’ve followed a lot because he plays for a club I love, and I always wish him the best, I always want the best for him,” Messi said.