Mounir Nasraoui, the father of Spanish star Lamine Yamal, has sparked widespread attention after making a humorous comment about the famous photograph of his son with Argentine legend Lionel Messi in 2007.
Nasraoui suggested that it may have been Lamine who gave Messi the blessing, rather than the other way around.
His comments came just days after the Barcelona youngster won the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain, achieving one of the biggest dreams of his career at just 19 years old.
Lamine Yamal is enjoying one of the happiest periods of his career after helping Spain lift the 2026 World Cup trophy.
The achievement marked another major milestone in the young winger’s rapid rise, although his journey through the tournament was far from easy.
Yamal joined the Spanish national team camp while still recovering from a left hamstring injury, which had raised doubts about his physical condition before the competition.
Despite those concerns, the Barcelona forward delivered strong performances and played an important role in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign.
Speaking in comments published by Spanish newspaper Sport and originally given to Mundo Deportivo, Mounir Nasraoui said he had always believed that his son would become a star.
“From the moment he was born, I knew he would be a great player,” Nasraoui said.
“Every father feels that way, and every parent wants their child to be the best.”
He added that one of his main goals in life has always been to see Lamine happy, both on and off the football pitch.
Nasraoui also praised his son’s personality, insisting that Yamal’s qualities go far beyond football.
“He is the best at everything, not only in football, but also in love, as a person, and in every aspect of life,” he said.
“The main reason is that he has been blessed by God, and that is something very important that must be appreciated.”
Lamine Yamal has become one of the biggest young stars in world football after establishing himself as a key player for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
Mounir Nasraoui also discussed Rocafonda, the neighbourhood where Lamine Yamal grew up and which remains an important part of the player’s identity.
“This neighbourhood is the best in the world and the best in Spain because we are all equal and share the same love for everyone,” he said.
“Long live Rocafonda 304. It is a symbol and a reference for everyone.”
The number 304 has become closely associated with Yamal and reflects his connection to the area where his football journey began.
Nasraoui was also asked about the famous photograph of Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, taken in 2007 when the Spanish star was still a baby.
The image was captured as part of a charity campaign organised by Sport in collaboration with UNICEF.
In the photograph, a young Messi can be seen helping to bathe the infant Yamal.
The picture later gained worldwide attention after Yamal broke into Barcelona’s first team and began drawing comparisons with the Argentine icon.
Responding jokingly to claims that Messi had passed his blessing on to Yamal, Nasraoui suggested that the opposite may have happened.
“Maybe Lamine was the one who blessed Messi,” he said.
“That photograph was simply one of life’s beautiful coincidences.”
The light-hearted remark once again brought attention to the symbolic link between Barcelona’s current young star and one of the greatest players in the club’s history.
The old photograph has fuelled comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, especially because both players emerged from Barcelona’s youth system and reached the first team at a young age.
However, Yamal continues to build his own career and identity, despite the pressure created by constant comparisons with the Argentine legend.
Known for his creativity, dribbling ability and performances on the right wing, Yamal has already become a central figure for Barcelona and Spain.
After winning the 2026 World Cup at the age of 19, the Spanish international has entered a new stage of his career and established himself as one of the leading players of his generation.
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