Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal melted hearts worldwide when eagle-eyed fans spotted “Messi” inscribed on the soles of his boots during the club’s La Liga clash against Las Palmas on November 30, 2024. The 17-year-old winger, who entered as a substitute after a three-week injury layoff, didn’t just make his return—he paid a subtle yet powerful homage to his lifelong idol, Lionel Messi, turning heads even from the bench in Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat.

This wasn’t mere customization; the boots are part of Adidas’s exclusive “Messi +10” campaign, where the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner handpicked 10 rising stars—five men and five women—to wear his signature F50 “Triunfo Estelar” cleats. Yamal, alongside Barcelona Femení’s Vicky López, headlined Messi’s selections, revealed in a promotional video where the Inter Miami star saved the Spaniard’s name for last, underscoring his status as the campaign’s centerpiece. Other honorees include Claudio Echeverri (River Plate), Jaedyn Shaw (USWNT), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Joel Ndala (Man City), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig), and Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco).

Yamal, who idolized Messi growing up—once imagining himself dribbling past defenders like the Argentine—signed a long-term Adidas deal in February 2024, ditching Nike to follow in his hero’s footsteps. “Leo Messi used to be my idol… he has been wearing Adidas boots since I started watching football,” Yamal said at the time. The F50 line, known for speed and agility, suits his explosive right-wing playstyle perfectly. Fans erupted online, with clips from OneFootball and 433 amassing millions of views, hailing it as “Barcelona heritage” and proof of the club’s enduring legacy.

Since bursting onto the scene at 15—the youngest debutant in Barça history—Yamal has tallied 21 goals and 28 assists in 100 games for club and Spain. His Euro 2024 heroics, including the assist for Spain’s winning goal, drew Messi’s praise: “Lamine is an amazing player.” Now wearing the iconic No. 10 shirt inherited from Messi, Yamal embodies the La Masia dream, blending flair with maturity.

The moment resurfaced virally into 2026, symbolizing generational torch-passing. As Barcelona eyes titles under Hansi Flick, Yamal’s tribute reminds us: true greatness honors its roots while forging ahead. With Messi watching from Miami, the kid once pictured with him as a baby is stepping up—boots and all.