Yamal’s career bears numerous similarities to Messi’s, including their jersey number at Barcelona. The striker, who was born in 2007, was assigned the number 27 shirt during the previous season. However, he is permitted to switch to the number 19 shirt for the 2024-2025 season. Messi began his professional career at Barcelona with jersey number 30, and he later wore shirt number 19.

The number 19 is also the first shirt number for Messi and Yamal in a significant tournament for the national team. At the age of 19, Messi donned this uniform during the 2006 World Cup, during which he participated in three matches, contributing one assist and one goal. At Euro 2024, Yamal, who wore the number 19 shirt, scored one goal and assisted four others. He was awarded the best youth player and contributed to Spain’s championship victory.

The 19-year-old striker Vitor Roque was unsuccessful in his attempt to don the number 19 shirt at Barca last season, as he only appeared in two La Liga matches. He is not enrolled for the 2024-2025 season, despite the fact that he has six months remaining on his contract with the team. This garment was subsequently passed down to Yamal.

Messi has worn the number 10 shirt since the 2008-2009 season, when he erupted to assist Barcelona in winning the treble. Additionally, the Argentine superstar won his first Golden Ball of his career. This shirt was transferred to Ansu Fati after he departed Barca in the summer of 2021. Fati was loaned to Brighton last season; however, he returned to continue donning the number 10 shirt.

Messi bathed Yamal as an infant at a UNICEF event, during which the Argentine player was still sporting the number 19 jersey. Yamal’s playing technique remains consistent as an adult.Yamal expressed his satisfaction with the prospect of becoming “the second Messi” when quizzed about the potential for him to surpass his senior. Yamal is currently unlikely to compete for the 2024 Golden Ball; however, he is likely to receive the Golden Boy award, as Messi did at the age of 18.