Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real.
More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot.
Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices and platforms as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors to support and advocate for children around the world.
The goal? That every child survives, thrives, and fulfils their potential.
We are proud to have them on our team.
Credit: Joan Monfort
🚨🗣️New: Erling Haaland on why England’s equalizer through Bellingham against Norway should not have stood:
“I don’t care how big the moment was, that goal should never have counted. The Laws of the Game are there for everyone. If the ball hits a camera cable and it changes the flight, that’s outside interference. Play stops. It’s a dropped ball. Simple.”
“Instead, England score, the whole momentum changes, and suddenly Norway are chasing a completely different game. Moments like that decide international tournaments.”
“Now imagine the exact same thing happened in a match involving Argentina and Messi. Be honest with yourselves, football wouldn’t hear the end of it. Every TV show, every podcast and every social media account would be calling it one of the biggest refereeing scandals of the tournament. But because it’s England, somehow people are expected to move on.”
“Consistency is all players ask for. Either the Laws apply every game, or they don’t.”
Pedri no longer shines with the same brilliance, and Lamine Yamal is still climbing toward an even higher level. Perhaps that’s what has finally given us the chance to truly appreciate the greatness of this kid.
Sometimes I genuinely feel like he’s artificial intelligence. Not a single mistake in his positioning off the ball. Not a single mistake in his short or long passing. Not a single mistake in anticipating danger, whether defending space, holding the line, or adapting to whatever system De la Fuente asks him to play.
A flawless build-up machine. Even when he decided to shoot, the rebound led to the goal that secured qualification.
He doesn’t have Saliba’s physical power, Gabriel’s dominance, or Upamecano’s pace. Yet he’s on the verge of surpassing all of them, because none of them possesses Cubarsí’s footballing brain.