Messi and Brady in disbelief over 'prophetic' Lamine Yamal photo
Lionel Messi and Tom Brady discussed a 2007 photograph of Messi with a baby Lamine Yamal, who is now a rising star in football. The two athletes expressed amazement at the coincidence as they prepare for the World Cup final.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of sports history and viral cultural moments, drawing attention to the rapid rise of young athletes like Yamal.
The picture of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal from 2007/ Joan Monfort VIA BBC
Argentina captain Lionel Messi says it is "crazy" to be facing Spain's Lamine Yamal in Sunday's World Cup final after being photographed with him as a baby.
In 2007 Lamine Yamal's parents won a charity photoshoot at Barcelona in which 20-year-old Messi held their five-month-old baby.
Speaking to Messi during a news conference in New York, NFL legend Tom Brady called the photos "very prophetic".
Messi said: "That photo is incredible. The fact that we're both playing in the World Cup now is crazy."
Lamine Yamal made his Barcelona debut at 15 and has inherited the number 10 shirt from Messi.
He helped Spain win Euro 2024 and, now aged 19, could become the youngest player to win the European Championships and the World Cup.
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