Lionel Messi is set to take on the heir to his Barcelona throne with the South American football federation including the Finalissima on their 2026 schedule.
CONMEBOL have released their programme for next year, and have a space reserved in March for the competition which sees the European and South American champions face off.
The competition started in the 1980s and 1990s, but was relaunched in 2022 when Copa America champions Argentina defeated Euro 2020 winners France 3-0 at London’s Wembley stadium.
Argentina went on to win the World Cup and defend their Copa crown, booking them a place against Spain who beat England in the Euro 2024 final.
Argentine outlet TyC Sports say the match will take place on a date between March 17 to 25 and the US, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are all potential hosts.
The match will pitch Inter Miami’s Messi against Barca’s Lamine, with the latter recently taking his No.10 at the Camp Nou.
All suggestions are that he could well live up to the pressure of the shirt, although Messi’s former manager Pep Guardiola isn’t so keen on comparisons.
“I think Lamine Yamal should be allowed to develop his career,” he said.
“And when he’s been playing for fifteen years, we’ll decide if he’s better or worse. Let him develop his career.
“And the fact that he’s being compared to Messi is a big deal. Like if you compare a painter to Van Gogh, they’ll say, wow, he’s not bad, it’s a sign he’s good.
“And that comparison is a sign he’s good. But we have to let him develop his career. And we’ll see.
“Messi has been a big deal. 90 goals in one season, for 15 years, nonstop, without injury. That’s a big deal. Let him go. Let him go.”
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