Football The Blessed: the story of the photo that reunites baby Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi

Lamine Yamal was one of the most outstanding figures of the European Cup . First, because at 16, the age at which the vast majority of footballers are training, he defends Spain in the continental tournament and does it in the best possible way. Then, consequently, because he is already considered one of the figures with the greatest projection in world football, at the very moment when the activity of searching for replacement talents for a generation of greats begins, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who, inevitably, In addition to trying to stay in the front line, they are retreating.

The new Iberian figure was in fact in the arms of the Argentine star. And this is not a figuration: you have to go to the archives to find an image that shows Yamal, six months old, carried by Messi who was then the main figure of Barcelona. the shirt that the budding figure wears successfully today.

The image was published by Yamal’s father, under a description that suggests a crossing that may already be historic. “The beginning of two legends,” he posts, accompanied by a heart. Little Lamine appears accompanied by his mother and a smiling Argentine star, with a different look from today: long hair and sportswear.

The image corresponds to a charity campaign carried out by the newspaper Sport, carried out in December 2007, with the participation of the Barcelona footballers, who are usually the focus of informative attention of this media.

The photos they took gave rise to the participation of baby Yamal with Messi in a solidarity calendar distributed by the aforementioned media. . Nobody even imagined that the transandean star was carrying in his arms someone who, today, is called to become his successor in the Barça jersey.

Yamal is the only minor participating in the current version of the European continental tournament. This condition obliges the Spanish delegation to respect certain legal provisions that are precisely aimed at protecting the integrity of those who are not yet 18 years old. One of the most striking is that you cannot be alone with an adult in a room. a limitation to which even the coach, Luis de la Fuente, is subject. The discussions between the coach and the footballer have always had a witness. In the interviews he gives to the media, he always shows himself to be on his guard. Regularly, by Nuria Martínez, the team representative, or by Rafa Zapatero, who is part of the communications team. . With the microphones in front, the attacker acts more and more naturally.

To participate in the Euro which is taking place in Germany, The footballer’s parents had to sign a series of authorizations to comply with the law, another example of the particular condition in which the player finds himself.