Lamine Yamal has continued his rise to stardom at Euro 2024 to help Spain progress to the final against England.
The Barcelona winger will turn 17 on July 13, the day before facing England, and his superb semifinal goal set a new record as the youngest ever scorer in the competition's history to edge Spain past France.
Despite his tender age, Luis de la Fuente will have no issue in starting Lamine Yamal against Gareth Southgate's team. His form at these finals, on the back of a breakthrough campaign at Barcelona, means he fully deserves to be in the lineup.
But it's not just his goals and performances that have gone viral. A photograph, which shows Lamine Yamal meeting Lionel Messi as a baby, has been shared widely on social media in recent days.
So, what's the story?
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Lamine Yamal-Messi photo explained
Messi's status as Barcelona's greatest ever player and and all-time legend of the sport is undisputed. However, Barca fans are always keen to see the next star emerging through their famed La Masia academy.
Alongside Messi, the club's youth ranks have produced the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, who went on to win three major trophies with Spain from 2008 to 2012. More recently, Lamine Yamal emerged as the next gem to graduate to the first team.
Of course, Messi — who left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 — never got the chance to play with Lamine Yamal in Blaugrana colours. And yet, remarkably, their paths crossed while Messi's own Barca career was in its relative infancy.
A photo of Messi and a baby-faced Lamine Yamal has circulated widely in recent days. It dates back to 2007 as part of a charity calendar photoshoot organised between Barcelona and club sponsor UNICEF.
The Spain winger's father Mounir Nasraoui posted the picture with the caption 'The beginning of two legends'. The image, which was also shared by Barca's official account, shows Messi smiling at baby Lamine Yamal, who is grinning away in a small plastic tub while being bathed by his mother, Sheila Ebana. It was particularly poignant moment to share the image, with Messi playing in the Copa America semifinals just hours after Lamine Yamal's spectacular goal against France.
The Barça Foundation 2008 solidarity calendar, in collaboration with @sport and @unicef, featuring Leo Messi, Lamine Yamal, and other Barça players.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 10, 2024
A special campaign to raise funds for UNICEF and for Barça
Foundation childhood protection programs. 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/vlEblHOvW1
The project was organised by UNICEF to demonstrate their work in Barcelona and Spain focusing on support for migrant communities.
Photographer Joan Monfort, who took the photos, added some context to the story behind Messi and Lamine Yamal's first meeting.
"We made the calendar with UNICEF. They did a raffle in the neighbourhood of Roca Fonda in Mataro where Lamine's family lived," he said, as per The Associated Press.
"They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barca player.
"Messi is a pretty introverted guy. He came out of the locker room and suddenly he is with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it!
"It was complicated. He didn't even know how to hold him at first."
Have Lamine Yamal and Messi played together?
Messi ended his incredible Barcelona career in 2021 as he joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. After two years in Paris, he moved on to MLS side Inter Miami, where he is under contract until the end of 2025.
Lamine Yamal joined the Barcelona youth set-up in 2014, but he did not graduate into the reserve team until 2022, when Messi had already left for France.
He made his Barcelona debut in April 2023 as part of Barcelona's La Liga title win, before joining the first team permanently ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Former boss Xavi Hernandez utilised him in 37 of their 38 league games last season, in which Lamine Yamal scored five goals.
Lamine Yamal's Euro 2024 stats
Ahead of the Euro 2024 final, Lamine Yamal has the joint highest amount of assists at the tournament (three), which is a new record for a played aged under 20.
His wonder goal against France saw him become the youngest goal scorer in Euros history. He was already the youngest player in the competition on the back of starting five of Spain's six games.
LAMINE YAMAL WITH A STUNNER FOR SPAIN 🇪🇸🔥😱 pic.twitter.com/JDxGGxlpXr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 9, 2024
The teenager has three goals in 13 senior Spain games.
