"Touched by God", "Industry plant" - Fans in disbelief as old images of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal from 2007 photoshoot resurface

Fans were left shell-shocked after old pictures of ex-Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and La Masia super-talent Lamine Yamal from a 2007 photoshoot emerged on social media. The images showed a newborn Yamal (born July 13, 2007) being held and bathed by the Argentine legend.

Messi is arguably the greatest player in Barcelona history, amassing an eye-watering 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 games for the club. Meanwhile, Yamal is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects to emerge from the club's academy in recent years.

The 16-year-old made his senior debut in April 2023, aged just 15 years and six months. He has racked up seven goals and 10 assists in 51 games for the Catalan giants. He has even become a regular starter for Spain under Luis de la Fuente, with two goals and six assists in 11 appearances.

The photographs were released by Spanish outlet SPORT and caused a stir on social media. @Furymaker_ wrote:

"Touched by God obviously."

@ChaaliiyKay added:

"Industry plant fr (for real)."

Here is a selection of fan reactions (from X):

"He got a gifted touch, no wonder he's the best youngster in the world now," @TheEuropeanLad noted.

@AlbicelesteTalk was left bewildered, writing,

"This is crazy, how did this even happen?"

"No wonder the kid is balling out here," @Debbybruno3 claimed.

"Guy got gifted from birth," @IamPrinceSanya2 wrote.

"This has to be some kind of ritual or something that he is destined for greatness," @FCB_Thijmen inferred.

"The scriptwriters won," claimed @Big_5ve.

"You got to be generational when your godfather is Messi," @FutbolNuanced declared.

"The “La Masia is a lab” shouts might be true uno," @1Way2Geeked suggested.

"Lionel Messi is the GOAT" - Lamine Yamal heaps praise on Barcelona legend

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal heaped praise on club legend Lionel Messi, claiming that he is the greatest player in the history of the sport.

In Spain's 4-1 thumping of Georgia in the Round of 16 at EURO 2024, Yamal set up Fabian Ruiz (51') to put his side into the lead (2-1). It was his second assist of the tournament, having previously set up Dani Carvajal for the final goal of their 3-0 win over Croatia in their tournament opener.

Naturally, journalists drew comparisons between the youngster and the Inter Miami superstar after the game. However, the 16-year-old remained humble, instead claiming that he would be honoured to have a career even half as prolific as the Argentine maestro.

Yamal said (via @FootballTalkHQ on X):

"Lionel Messi is the GOAT. To be compared to him is incredible, but nobody can be compared to him. I hope to have even half the career Messi’s had."

Up next, Yamal will be seen in action when Spain take on Germany in a mouth-watering EURO 2024 quarter-final clash at Stuttgart's MHPArena on July 5.