Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated that the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will serve as a testament to the strength and influence of the club's famed La Masia academy. With several current Barcelona players representing Spain and Lionel Messi captaining Argentina, Laporta believes the match will highlight the club's consistent ability to produce elite football talent.
"Messi has also reached the final, and I'm delighted," Laporta told RAC1. "He's a source of pride for La Masia. Messi is the past and the present, and Lamine (Yamal) is the present and the future. We're very happy to have what is the genuine Barça style of play."
Laporta, who is in New York for the final, noted that eight players from the current Barcelona squad are part of the Spanish national team. He sees the academy's graduates competing on the world's biggest stage as a significant achievement, regardless of the final outcome.
"As president, I'm proud to have developed these two players at home, and if we add Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, who's having a spectacular World Cup, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Pedri, Ferran Torres... It's spectacular," Laporta said, referencing a broader group of players with ties to Barcelona's youth system.
He contrasted the two finalists' styles, describing Argentina as more aggressive and Spain as playing more cohesively with a style akin to Barcelona's. Laporta asserted that Barcelona's philosophy remains recognized globally and praised his current squad, expressing satisfaction with their presence in the final.
"We are very proud of the eight players we have. It's very important for them, and as president, I am very satisfied and grateful to have such talented players," he stated. The match is set to feature a significant presence of La Masia alumni, underscoring the academy's historical and ongoing impact on international football.
