What is the Finalissima 2025? Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal set to face off for prestigious trophy [Video]

LAMINE YAMAL has confirmed his status as football’s next superstar at Euro 2024 – but has only been playing 11-a-side games for four years, write Jack Rosser.

Spain’s incredible 16-year-old bent home the goal of the tournament so far against France as La Roja sealed the spot in the final.

But his first five years in Barcelona’s academy were spent playing seven-a-side football, up until the age of 12 in 2020 when he finally got a crack at 11-a-side games.

Yamal’s story is baffling, brilliant and barely believable in equal measure.

He is a boy born to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, who turns 17 tomorrow and was cradled by footballing royalty at just six months old.

Staggering pictures of Yamal as a baby being held and bathed by Messi, taken for a Barcelona charity calendar 16 years ago, resurfaced this week.

He did not restrict …