Lamine Yamal has become one of the most intriguing personalities in soccer. With numerous achievements under his belt already, the 16-year-old can proudly claim the title of the youngest player to score in a European Championship. And whenever a fresh new talent bursts into the scene, there are bound to be comparisons. Will they follow in Lionel Messi’s footsteps or Cristiano Ronaldo’s? That’s usually the question that follows. And you can imagine who the Barcelona star has been compared to. Which brings us to this…

Yamal recently stirred up excitement worldwide after being caught in a frame with the Argentine captain 17 years ago. Yes, he’s 16, but he will turn 17 this year. And the picture was from when he was just four months old. Interestingly, this picture with Lionel Messi didn’t just surface out of the blue. It was Yamal’s father who shared it. He even comically claimed that Lamine was the one who blessed Messi, not the other way around. But who is Yamal’s father, and what do we know about him?

Lamine Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui: All you need to know

Lamine Yamal is the son of Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana and was born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia. His father, Nasraoui, is of Moroccan descent and 32 years old, per the Spanish publication Diario AS. Born in Larache, Morocco, he later migrated to Spain. It was with his mother, Fatima (Yamal’s grandmother), who arrived first in 1988, specifically in Madrid, from Tangier, to earn her and her family’s daily bread.

Interesting fact: Spanish national team veteran and Yamal’s teammate, Jesus Navas, is older than Yamal’s father. In fact, when the 38-year-old made his Spanish national team debut in 2009, Nasraoui was around the same age as Yamal is now.

Subsequently, the family shifted to Rocafonda, which has the postal code 08304. Why is that important? If you’ve seen Lamine Yamal celebrate his goals, he forms the last three digits – 304 – with his hands as a tribute to the neighborhood where he grew up. That was where Mounir Nasraoui met Yamal’s mother, Sheila, who was from Equatorial Guinea. However, when Yamal was just three, his parents split. While Nasraoui stayed in Rocafonda, his son and Sheila shifted to Granollers, where the now 16-year-old started training in La Torreta.

Within a few years, FC Barcelona scouted Lamine Yamal and invited him to training sessions at La Masia. And in 2014, he signed with the club. Although soccer became his main focus, the young gun ensured he traveled back and forth between Granollers and Rocafonda. So, he spent time with both his parents growing up. Nasraoui, having spent much of his time in Rocafonda, is a building painter. Although not much is known about his childhood, one thing we can conclude is that soccer was always something he loved. It’s evident in how passionate he is about his son’s achievements.

Nasraoui, like any other father, expresses elation after his son’s massive success. Usually taking to Instagram to express his support, he also cheers the Lamine from the stands instead of the VIP boxes. That said, he has had a few issues in the past. Nasraoui got into a confrontation by throwing eggs at a Vox tent filled with people. He was subsequently arrested and fined approximately $650 for the incident.

In addition, a few reports claimed that FC Barcelona was also having a problem because of his attitude and claimed he added too much pressure on them, that he is “in too much of a hurry” to watch his son succeed. But that’s the thing. Nasraoui is confident about Lamine Yamal’s caliber and also joked that he was the one who blessed Lionel Messi.

Nasraoui’s bold statement about Messi and his trust in Yamal

Lamine Yamal’s father recently posted pictures that show Messi bathing a four-month-old Yamal. With many claiming that it was a turning point in Yamal’s life – receiving a blessing from the Argentine captain – Nasraoui had a different take. According to him, Yamal is “blessed by god,” and he also joked, “Maybe it was Lamine who blessed Leo!” suggesting that Messi found most of his success only after the picture was taken.

Notably, the picture was for the Barça Foundation 2008 solidarity calendar in collaboration with Diario SPORT. It was a special campaign to raise funds for UNICEF and Barça Foundation’s childhood protection programs. When Mounir Nasraoui shared the picture on Instagram, he wrote, “The beginning of two legends.” While Lamine Yamal still has a long way to go before becoming a “legend” (even though his father truly believes Yamal is already one), there’s no doubt that Lionel Messi is one in the 16-year-old’s eyes, too.

“I have never had another idol. Once I took a photo with Messi, I was unknown. Maybe one day I will become like him,” Yamal expressed. It looks like he’s already on the path to achieving that. Lamine Yamal’s incredible goal against France sealed Le Roja’s spot in the final of Euro 2024. With his father’s backing, can the teenager win the Euros? Let us know your predictions!