Lionel Messi—one of the greatest football stars of all time—and Lamine Yamal—considered his successor on Barcelona’s right flank—are set to face each other for the first time. This highly anticipated duel will take place during the clash between Argentina and Spain in the upcoming World Cup final.
Messi is currently 39 years old, while Yamal is just 19. One has maintained his dominance over world football for more than two decades, while the other has risen to become one of the sport’s biggest stars while still in his teens.
Consequently, many view this face-off between representatives of two different generations on football’s grandest stage as a truly special moment.
First Meeting 19 Years Ago
However, this is not the first time Messi and Yamal have met. That occurred back in 2007, when a 20-year-old Messi was just establishing himself as a regular player for Barcelona, and Yamal was merely five months old.
Several photographs taken at the time by Barcelona photographer Joan Monfort have since become part of history. The images show Messi cradling and affectionately tending to the infant Yamal, even bathing him.
In 2024, when Yamal won the Euros with Spain, his father, Mounir Nasraoui, posted one of those photos on social media. He captioned the image: “The beginning of two legends.”
In an interview with BBC Sport, photographer Joan Monfort described it as a miraculous twist of fate. He called it a truly astonishing coincidence—something beyond imagination. He remarked that even if someone were to make a movie about this story, it would seem unrealistic. Messi didn’t quite know how to handle the baby.
The photos were taken in the away dressing room at Camp Nou, Barcelona’s stadium at the time. Yamal’s family had won the opportunity to visit the venue through a contest jointly organized by the Catalan newspaper Sport, Barcelona’s jersey sponsor, and the international children’s charity UNICEF. Children from families selected via a lottery would have their photos taken with a player from the Barcelona first team. By chance, Messi was paired with Yamal’s family.
Monfort said, “In 2024, a friend called to tell me that the child in the photo was Lamine Yamal. I hadn’t known about it before then.”
He added, “Messi is a very shy and introverted person. He had come into the dressing room and was suddenly asked to take a photo with a small child. Judging by his facial expression, it seemed he didn’t quite know what to do. However, Yamal was a very cheerful child. His mother, Sheila, helped us. The family was facing severe financial hardship, yet they were extremely polite and cooperative.”
Yamal’s achievements by age 19 are astonishing
By the age of 19, Messi had 11 senior goals, one La Liga title, and one UEFA Champions League title to his name. In contrast, Yamal—who has just turned 19—has already scored 56 goals. He has won three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain.
‘Yamal’ is not actually a surname
Many assume ‘Yamal’ is his family name. In reality, it is not. His full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana.
He displays both ‘Lamine’ and ‘Yamal’ on the back of his jersey. Spanish media reports indicate that his father chose these two names to honor two individuals who supported the family during a financial crisis at the time of his birth.
‘Lamine’ is a common Arabic name meaning ‘honest’ or ‘trustworthy.’ Meanwhile, ‘Yamal’ is a variation of ‘Jamal,’ which means ‘beauty’ or ‘grace.’
Childhood spent in Rocafonda
Yamal grew up in Rocafonda, a working-class neighborhood in Mataró, located about 20 miles north of Barcelona. To express his love for his neighborhood, he often signals “3-0-4” with his fingers after scoring a goal—a reference to the Rocafonda postcode.
In an earlier interview with El País, Yamal said, “I might not be able to do for my own child what my parents did for me. It is very difficult to sustain a child’s football career without money, but my parents made everything possible. I can never repay that debt.”
“It feels like my heart is being torn in two”
For Joan Monfort, a Catalan and Barcelona supporter, seeing Messi and Yamal face off in the World Cup final represents the culmination of an extraordinary story that began 19 years ago.
He says, “I feel like a cycle in their story is coming to completion. I want Messi to end his career by winning the World Cup for the second time; he deserves it.”
However, he adds, “On the other hand, Yamal still has plenty of time ahead of him to win major trophies, including the World Cup. But if he were to win it now, that victory would be more valuable than any other title he might win.”
Finally, he says with emotion, “It is very difficult for me. It feels like my heart is being torn in two.”
