Lamine Yamal's father delivered a brilliant line when he spoke about his son's viral pictures with Lionel Messi.
After Yamal's stunning performance against France at Euro 2024, an image of a young Messi with the Spain starlet emerged on social media.
Messi, who was 20, was making a name for himself as he took part in a charity calendar photoshoot for UNICEF, who were Barcelona's sponsors at the time.
The Argentine was snapped bathing Yamal, with the long-forgotten photo of the pair resurfacing after Mounir Nasraou, the Barca starlet's father, posted it on Instagram, with the caption: "The beginning of two legends."
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Mounir doubled down on his praise for his lad as he opened up on the viral pictures with Messi.
Asked about the pictures, he replied: "They are coincidences in life. Blessing from Leo to Lamine? or from Lamine to Leo. For me, my son is the best."
Mounir added: "Lamine is a special case. He has matured before the others. Thanks to all of Spain, La Masia, friends..."
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Yamal has three assists to his name at Euro 2024 as he opened his goal account for the tournament against France, curling home a sensational strike to level proceedings.
He has one more outing to impress at the Euros as his side face England in the final.
But the 16-year-old has already impressed Alan Shearer, who tipped him to emulate Messi.
"We don't want to get carried away but, boy oh boy, no one's ever done this stuff. Even Messi was later," he said on The Rest is Football podcast. "I'm not saying he's going to be a Messi or Maradona, but he could be. To do what he's doing at this age, and he's so calm. His decision-making and the goal, no one's ever done that."
Topics: Lamine Yamal, Spain, Football