A mural dedicated to Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal in Barcelona it barely remained intact for a few hours before being vandalized. The work, created on the occasion of the final of the World Cup 2026 between Argentina and Spainappeared almost completely covered with graffiti that claims the identity of a historic club in the Gràcia neighborhood and rejects what its authors consider “modern football.”
The artistic intervention had been carried out by the artist Ax Colors in the Manuel Torrente Gardens, a space of the Barcelona neighborhood of Gràcia. In it, Messi and the young Spanish attacker were seen smiling while looking at each other face to face, an image inspired by the duel that both will star in this Sunday in the match that will define the world champion.
However, shortly after its creation, the painting was covered with the message: “A Gràcia, només Membership Esportiu Europa. Contra el Futbol Contemporary” (“In Gràcia, only Membership Deportivo Europa. Against modern football”).
? The mural of Leo Messi and Lamine Yamal that the artist Ax Colors had painted in Barcelona on the occasion of the World Cup final between Spain?? and Argentina?? It was vandalized a few hours after its creation.
?? However, the iconic image of both has been covered almost in? pic.twitter.com/sI9Y7ohJ17
— El Grafico (@elgraficoweb) July 18, 2026
The phrase is usually used by followers of the Membership Esportiu Europa, the most representative team in the neighborhood, which currently competes in the First Federation, the third category of Spanish football. With this motto, its fans seek to defend the identity of the institution against the growth of professionalism and the prominence of the big clubs.
Messi praises Lamine Yamal before the World Cup final
The appearance and subsequent vandalization of the mural coincided with the statements offered by Lionel Messi during an event held in New Yorkwhere he spoke about the confrontation he will have with Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
The Argentine captain recalled the well-known photograph that was taken years ago with a Lamine Yamal baby and he acknowledged that he never imagined that they would end up facing each other in a world title match.
“Lamine plays for a club that I love, for which I always wish the best. He is one of the world leaders and, at 19 years old, he has his entire career ahead of him, a great opportunity to achieve something historic that we will try to prevent from happening this time,” said the Argentine soccer player.
Messi also described the story behind that image as surprising.
“That photo is crazy because, well, In life it is difficult to take a photo with a baby and then face him in a World Cup. The truth is that it is crazy. He is one of the best in the world at the moment, without a doubt, and I wish him the best of luck because he is going to be good for Barcelona too,” he said.
Yes, these images you’ve viewed are accurate.
Bigger than 18 years within the past, a piece one named Lamine Yamal and his mother Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot.
This day, their achievements on the pitch inspire hundreds of hundreds. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal exercise their voices? pic.twitter.com/TSoUPDxia2
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) July 16, 2026
Despite the praise for the Spanish attacker, the Albiceleste captain made it clear what his team’s objective will be in Sunday’s final.
“We will try to play a good game so that he does not have his best version, although it is difficult, we will try. Both he and Spain have great players, a great game, and we have our weapons too,” he concluded.
The work of Ax Colors sought to represent the symbolism of the duel between two generations of football and the connection that unites both players with Barcelona. However, that image ended up becoming the protagonist for a different reason, after being covered by a slogan linked to neighborhood football and the defense of the identity of the Membership Esportiu Europa.
Keep reading:
· Messi returns to a bitter stage in his career with the Argentina national team
· This is how Shakira prepares for the 2026 World Cup halftime show
· Messi recognizes that it is “crazy” to face Lamine Yamal, whom he met as a baby, in the 2026 World Cup final
