Residents of a working-class neighborhood near Barcelona are celebrating local pride as Spain forward Lamine Yamal prepares to face Lionel Messi's Argentina in the upcoming World Cup final.
The Rocafonda neighborhood in the coastal city of Mataro has become a hub of excitement, drawing together local fans and family members who have watched the 19-year-old Barcelona forward rise from local pitches to the international stage.
“Now that the moment has come when the two of them are going to play against each other, it’s incredible,” said Keba, an 18-year-old Senegalese resident.
Anticipation for the final in New Jersey has grown significantly due to Messi's peak years at Barcelona and a viral photograph showing the 39-year-old Argentine icon with Yamal as a baby.
Yamal's grandmother, Fatima Nasraoui, and his 15-year-old cousin, Rayan, watched the local celebrations from a bench near a prominent mural of the Spanish star.
“I want Spain to win,” said Fatima Nasraoui.
The young forward, born in Spain to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, frequently honors his upbringing during matches by forming the number "304" with his hands to represent the postal code of Rocafonda.
“To me, Lamine means many good things, but above all he’s like a brother because we grew up together,” said Rayan.
Throughout the tournament, Yamal has used his platform to highlight football as a vehicle for social and racial integration.
His uniform choices have consistently paid tribute to his background, featuring a custom headband displaying his neighborhood's name alongside the flags of both his parents' native countries on his boots.
