There may have been some magic in the air 19 years ago when Lionel Messi first set eyes on Lamine Yamal. In a scarcely believable set of circumstances, 20-year-old Messi posed with five-month old Yamal for a stunning UNICEF photoshoot that has since gone viral.
“A true miracle of destiny,” is how photographer Joan Monfort described his iconic picture. And every single time you look at the photo, it never fails to blow your mind.
Football delivers some incredible stories but it may be impossible to find a more outrageous turn of events than those that saw the baby in the picture go on to follow Messi through the ranks at Barcelona, playing in the same position and wearing the same number. Next up for Yamal? The small matter of a clash against Messi and Argentina in the World Cup final. You couldn’t make it up.
The GOAT and the kid
Messi met Yamal when he had just become a regular starter at Barcelona and was on his way to becoming the greatest player ever to play the beautiful game. Yamal’s family won a competition to take part in the shoot and were paired with Messi by chance.
The Argentine has since gone on to win everything the game has to offer, dazzling the world with his outrageous skill, writing his name into this history books and becoming almost universally recognised as the very best player ever to play the game.
Barca were dominant with Messi and he was expected to spend his entire career in Catalunya, but his abrupt departure from the club in 2021 rocked the football world, left Messi distraught and fans completely shell-shocked.
Replacing Messi is an impossible feat but Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy is a very special place and managed to work some more magic. Less than two years after Messi walked away from Camp Nou, 15-year-old Yamal made his debut and began his own path to superstardom.
Yamal’s emergence certainly softened the blow of Messi’s exit but the youngster has still had to put up with endless comparisons to the Barcelona legend. Those comparisons don’t help Yamal but there’s no denying the similarities between the two players. Both are left-footed, love to dribble, make the game look easy and regularly get fans off their seats.
There’s also a sense of destiny when it comes to Yamal and Messi. Both players debuted at the World Cup aged 19, wearing the No. 19 for their respective countries. The two players have also celebrated birthdays during the current tournament, as Messi is now 39 and Yamal has turned 19. They will now meet again in a World Cup final that takes place on, yes you’ve guessed it, the 19th.
While they share similar qualities, they are undoubtedly different players and Yamal has always made it clear he wants to forge his own path. With a maturity that belies his tender years, Yamal is already proving to be a worthy heir to Messi’s throne for that dreaded day when the great man finally decides to hang up those most incredible of boots.
Messi and Yamal meet again
Almost two decades after that incredible photo, it feels like there’s magic in the air once again. Messi has led Argentina to a second straight World Cup final and is top of the scoring charts, outperforming the likes of Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and current Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele.
Messi now faces Spain knowing victory will end the GOAT debate once and all. But it’s not as easy as all that. La Roja have conceded just one goal on their run to the final and in Lamine Yamal have a player who loves the big occasion.
Yamal returned from injury in time for the World Cup and is yet to really light up the tournament in the way we all know he can. There’s a feeling that the competition is still waiting for the Lamine Yamal show and Sunday offers a glorious opportunity.
The stage is therefore set for the two incredible talents to come face to face once again on Sunday. An extraordinary twist of fate brought the pair together in Barcelona all those years ago, creating a unforgettable moment. As they prepare to meet again in New York, don’t be surprised if they produce more magic in the biggest game of them all.
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