sorry i have to get sappy because lamine yamal man. the difference every single time he steps onto a pitch. the difference he made in the first game, the difference he makes every time he touches the ball… this shit means something to me!!!!! i always mourn the fact that i was too young to consciously experience the beginning of messi’s journey. i grew up with him, but i was a baby for so much of the start of it all but how lucky i am because i get to experience this one in real time. some kids right now are witnessing their version of what messi was for me and so many others. that is such a beautiful thing. there’s almost a strange sense of pride too because he’s younger than me, it’s like watching your little brother do something extraordinary and feeling overwhelmingly proud of him. i just hope he knows how many people around the world are rooting for him. football is his. the world is his.