Lamine Yamal's reputation as football's brightest next thing shouldn't be a surprise given that he was 'blessed' by one of the greats.
The Spanish wonderkid is just one match away from inspiring his country to Euro 2024 glory with La Roja bidding to beat England on Sunday night to the top prize in European football.
Much has been made of Yamal's achievements at the age of 16, but Sunday's Euro 2024 final comes one day after he celebrated his 17th birthday on July 13.
Still, the La Masia graduate has broken a number of incredible records.
He is the youngest ever player to appear, score and assist at a European Championship.
More impressively, perhaps, Yamal broke Pele's long-standing record, dating back to 1966, by becoming the youngest player ever to feature in a major-tournament semi-final.
Inspired by Messi, Yamal was only a baby when he first met the Barcelona legend on the photo shoot of a charity calendar.
Messi was pictured helping to bathe a baby Yamal, with some describing it as a 'football baptism' - and the kid's father believes that the early meeting could have been destiny.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Mounir Nasraoui said, "They are coincidences in life. Blessing from Leo to Lamine? or from Lamine to Leo. Maybe it was Lamine who blessed Messi.
"For me, my son is the best. Lamine is a special case."
It wasn't the only time that Yamal and Messi have crossed paths though, with the pair pictured meeting years later.
An image has emerged from 2019 with Messi posing with the youngster who is clutching a boot bag.
Interestingly, Yamal can be seen sporting a Tottenham branded tracksuit, suggesting that he may well have a soft spot for the Premier League side.
While it can't be confirmed if the teen sensation is a Tottenham fan, he'll be hoping to shake off Spurs' trophyless reputation when he takes to the stage in Berlin on Sunday night.
While having a LaLiga title on his resume after bagging one assist in one league appearance in 2022/23, victory in the Euro 2024 final would be the first significant title in the teenager's medal collection.
Having bagged three assists and netting a stunner against France in the semi-finals, Yamal will be riding high going into the showpiece event.
If he has, in fact, been blessed by Messi then Yamal is set for a career strewn with trophies and medals but even the Argentine GOAT had to start somewhere.
Victory over Gareth Southgate's side could be the first major step on Yamal's journey to footballing immortality.
"Lamine is a natural football talent on an exceptional scale," said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente on the eve of the final. "There are very few like him.
"His greatness will be measured in how much he manages to stay even more humble each day. Football has so many ups and downs. One day you're being praised, the next criticised – a lot.
"He has to keep a balance and the maturity which allows you to avoid the great highs and the great lows. Because this is the history of football, it will always happen.
"The special thing right now is how difficult it is to do what he's doing at 16 with such naturalness. But our responsibility as those who help shape him, above and beyond coaching, is to help him maintain his values, humility, responsibility, professionalism. These things will make him an even better person as he grows up, and then an even better footballer.
"To our great fortune, he's Spanish and hopefully we'll be enjoying a great footballer, if he has luck, for a long time at the top of the world game."