One is the best player of our time, Lionel Messi, who has achieved countless great things at Barcelona, winning eight Ballon d'Or awards. The other is Yamal, who will turn 17 and is considered the next leader at the Camp Nou. They didn't expect to be linked with each other 17 years ago.
This photo was taken in December 2007, when Barcelona teamed up with Diario Sport, a Catalan media outlet, to take a set of calendars for charity, with the money gained going to charitable groups. This event has been done many times locally and countless photos have been taken of many players and children. This time though, the main characters are Messi and Yamal, and their combination is sure to get noticed. Messi, Yamal and Yamal's mother. Image from:sport.es
In one of the interviews, the photographer said it wasn't easy to take the set at that time. Messi was shy. He was more shy then than he is now. It's hard for two complete strangers to interact and not be silent. Fortunately, the baby's mother is around, which keeps the baby from worrying about such an environment, and both parties interact slowly.
"What's incredible is that no one could have imagined at the time that this baby would turn out to be what he is now, and Messi in 2007, you wouldn't have known that he would be where he is today," says photographer Monfort. said photographer Monfort.
In fact, Montfort himself didn't know the baby was Yamal at the time, and after the photos circulated online, he was contacted by his Diario Sport colleagues, who laughed when they realized it was Yamal, saying that a lot of photos were taken at the time, some of which were preserved.
"I'm glad it happened. Yamal became a soccer player and the photo has been preserved, especially in today's soccer world, which is associated with money and power."
Monforte also mentioned that Yamal's mother will be shooting with her 6-month-old child from northeast Barcelona. They live in Mataro, 40 kilometers from Barcelona. (Mataro) and not everyone wants to travel that far in a car with a child. When they arrive, they have to wait. It's really not easy to wait for the players and everyone to be positioned and everything to be ready. Yamal and Messi. Image from:sport.es
Six years after the end of the photo, Yamal also joined the La Masia academy. He regularly drove from Mataro to train at Barcelona. When he was younger he learned a more free-flowing style of play on the streets, but when he went to the La Masia academy, Yamal began to train formally.
However, Yamal, who is considered a genius, has not completely lost his original style. He is still very unpredictable in the game. Like Messi, he uses his left foot. Although his right foot is weaker, Yamal can also use his right foot when the inside is shielded.
Barcelona manager Xavi said last season:Yamal is very different, which is valuable in soccer. Yamal always makes the best decisions. Of course, it's hard to compare with Messi. Messi is the best player in history.
Yamal is a talented player. I'm sure anyone who has seen him play would think so, but in fact, compared to Messi's style of play, Yamal may be the Brazilian phenom Neymar, who once said Messi is the best player, but he prefers to watch Neymar play.
"Everyone compares me and Messi. In fact, I think everyone should think about it more. Our positions are similar, but I don't think anyone can compare with Messi. I'll play soccer in my own way and just enjoy the game without pressure."
In 2023, Messi left Barcelona to play internationally in Miami, USA. In an interview he was asked who could be the best in the world after him. Messi mentioned the likes of Mbappe, Harland, Vinicius and then he said:- "I don't know many youngsters who can compete now. Yamal is very young, playing at Barcelona and playing an important role. He will try to be the best player in the future and a great era is coming."
Yamal is still young and has a lot to improve on. He needs to play more defense until he's not a player like Messi, and he can do a better job of running without the ball and working with his teammates.
There's still plenty of time. This is just a boy under 17. Yamal says that when he's 25, he wants to be a responsible person, and everyone already knows who he is.
Twenty-five is eight years away for Yamal. It's a scary number. Yamal has already played one game in Europe. When he turns 25, he will be playing in his third Europe.
