Messi writes letter to Yamal as 17-year-old prepares to inherit iconic jersey

Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi have rarely crossed paths publicly, but the comparisons between the two stars keep swirling.

Messi stands alone as the greatest footballer of all time, and Yamal's performances on Barcelona's right-wing have drawn comparisons to the World Cup Winner.

The iconic photo of Messi cradling baby Yamal adds a poetic twist, as the same infant is now poised to inherit his legendary number 10 shirt at Barcelona.

While the two players have never shared a pitch, Messi recently connected with Yamal through an Adidas campaign.

In a heartfelt letter featured in the ad, Messi wrote, “Blame it on the boots,” linking their shared use of F50 boots and their ability to create magic on the field.

The timing is perfect, as Yamal is set to take over Messi’s iconic number 10 shirt next season, especially with Ansu Fati’s departure.

Given Yamal’s knack for thriving under pressure and his fearless style, he’s ready to embrace the shirt’s legacy without being fazed by the spotlight.