"For me, my son is the best!" - Lamine Yamal's father makes hilarious claim about 2007 photoshoot involving Lionel Messi and his son
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal's father made a funny claim about old photos of his son with Lionel Messi from 2007. In a recent conversation with Mundo Deportivo, Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui was asked about the recently resurfaced images of a baby Yamal with Lionel Messi.
Lamine's father jokingly claimed that rather than Leo blessing Lamine, maybe it was his son who blessed the legendary Argentine.
"They are coincidences in life. Blessing from Leo to Lamine? Or from Lamine to Leo. For me, my son is the best," he said.
The images of Messi and Lamine Yamal as a baby went viral online after Mounir Nasraoui shared them on his Instagram last week with the caption "The beginning of two legends.”
Nasraoui further told Mundo Deportivo that his son Lamine Yamal is special as he has reached his peak much sooner than others.
"Lamine is a special case. He has matured before the others. Thanks to all of Spain, La Masia, friends," he added.
Lamine Yamal has taken the world of football by storm with his exceptional performances for Spain in the ongoing Euro 2024. The youngster scored a decisive goal against France in the semi-final and has three assists to his name in six appearances at the tournament.
The 16-year-old La Masia graduate has also been a regular for Barcelona at the club level, much like Messi at a young age. He made 50 appearances across competitions in the 2023-24 campaign, scoring seven goals and providing ten assists in the process.
When and why did Lionel Messi's photoshoot with a baby Lamine Yamal take place?
It's no doubt an uncanny coincidence that Lionel Messi once bathed a newborn Lamine Yamal back in 2007. The child would go on to be called the Argentine's successor at his boyhood club, Barcelona, while Leo would go on to win multiple titles with the club.
The pictures, in association with UNICEF and SPORT, were taken by freelance photographer Joan Monfort from the Associated Press.
Monfort revealed to BBC that Yamal's family won a raffle organized by UNICEF in the town of Mataro in 2007 and the photoshoot was conducted as 20-year-old Lionel Messi bathed a few months old Lamine.
"They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barça player. And they won the raffle. The assignment wasn't a straightforward one. Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy,” Monfort recalled.
In 2007, Lionel Messi was yet to shine for Barcelona under Guardiola's guidance. One could say he was yet to hit his prime but his rise at the Camp Nou had already begun. Monfort recalled how an awkward Messi bathed a young Yamal for the photoshoot.
“He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room 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,” he remembered.
Monfort told BBC that he only realized the child was Lamine Yamal when the photos resurfaced online during Euro 2024.
“It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation. To tell you the truth it’s a very nice feeling,” he added.
While Lamine Yamal has openly called Messi and Neymar Jr his idols, Leo once claimed that the 16-year-old could compete for the Ballon d'Or in the future.