Big names in sport often have narratives that mark the beginning of their successful journeys. The trajectory of young Lamine Yamal, a football phenomenon, is intertwined in a curious way with Lionel Messi, a bathtub and a photographic image that insists on resurfacing.
Captured in 2007 for a charity project, the image depicts Messi, still a rising talent, caring for a six-month-old baby in a bathtub. At that time, the scene did not generate much repercussion, being seen as just a simple recording for charitable purposes.
However, time passed and the little baby grew up.
Currently, Lamine Yamal is recognized as one of the great promises of global football. This old photograph has become part of the mythology of the sport, and fans reinterpret it not as a charity event, but as the exact moment in which Messi, unexpectedly, would have transmitted his talent. This narrative, amplified on social media, adds a layer of immense expectation on young talents, transforming casual events into supposed prophecies that accompany their careers.
Logically, the interpretation of the image has no basis.
However, it is precisely this characteristic that fascinates everyone.
Whenever Yamal displays his skill by dribbling past opponents or finishing with precision, the photo quickly resurfaces on digital platforms. The subtitles that accompany it appear almost automatically, with phrases such as “The prophecy” or “The baton was passed”, reinforcing the mystique.
The world wide web managed to transform a harmless record into a kind of football superhero legend. And the story doesn’t end there.
Yamal replicated Messi’s steps so exactly that the comparisons and jokes come effortlessly. He started his career wearing the same colors that made Messi a legend and demonstrates the same self-confidence on the field. Each notable performance intensifies the comparisons, regardless of the young athlete’s wishes.
Then come the interviews.
While many teenagers show caution, Yamal takes a different stance. He expresses himself with confidence, smiles even under intense pressure and demonstrates that he is not fazed by the excessive attention around him. Generally, this attitude could irritate part of the public.
The point is that he continues to surprise and, now, presents the most recent twist in his journey.
Spain is preparing for a clash against Portugal, and that will put Yamal on the same pitch as Cristiano Ronaldo. For approximately twenty years, Ronaldo maintained a historic rivalry with Messi, where each goal, each trophy and each award won became a new chapter in this legendary football competition.
Just when it was believed that this rivalry was over, a young athlete appears with enough links to Messi to keep the internet public entertained for another decade.
A situation that can be considered unusual for Ronaldo.
Initially, he dedicated years of his career to surpassing Messi.
And now, the fate of football confronts him with “baby Messi”, the same one he had bathed years ago.
