A NEW photo has emerged of Lionel Messi with Euro 2024’s breakout star Lamine Yamal before he hit the big time.
Yamal, 16, has enjoyed an incredible tournament for Spain, who play England in Sunday’s final.
The Barcelona winger became the youngster scorer in Euros history with a wonder-strike in the semi-final win over France.
And Yamal is now ready to become a global megastar by capturing his first international title just a day after his 17th birthday.
The left-footer plays on the right wing for club and country, with many hailing him as Barcelona’s natural successor to Messi.
The Argentine has won the lot as a player, including eight Ballon d’Ors and the 2022 World cup.
And it seems Messi left his mark on Yamal when the pair linked up for a photoshoot 17 years ago.
Yamal was just a baby when Messi, then 20, posed with him for a charity calendar.
And he was even given a bath in the adorable snaps, with many claiming it was destiny that Yamal would go on to become football’s latest sensation.
However, it’s not the only time the pair have met for a photo.
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Another picture was unearthed by internet sleuths today, showing Yamal posing with Messi in 2019.
Yamal looked worlds away from the player he is today, as he was just 11 years old at the time.
Messi was still a Barcelona player at the time, and it appears the duo may have posed together at the club’s training ground as Yamal tucked a kit bag under his arm.
Messi is sure to be keeping a close eye on Yamal’s fortunes this Sunday.
He too is preparing for a final in the Copa America after Argentina set up a showdown with Colombia.
Messi netted in the 2-0 semi-final win over Canada and will be hoping to add a second Copa America crown to his collection after victory in 2021.
