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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Sid Lowe in New York

God’s will? Destiny? Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, that photo and the World Cup final

A collage showing Messi and Yamal looking upward, and a black-and-white photo of young Messi holding baby Yamal
Lionel Messi cradles a four-month old baby in the Camp Nou dressing room in 2007. That baby was, of course, Lamine Yamal. Composite: Guardian Design; Reuters; FIFA/Getty Images; AP

“Maybe Lionel Messi has picked up lots of babies, maybe it’s chance, but for those of us who have faith, who believe in something beyond, ‘chance’ is God’s pseudonym when he doesn’t want to sign his name,” Luis de la Fuente says. “In life, everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it’s true that the circle isn’t closed, but in my view there’s something else, something … I don’t know, mystical, spiritual.”

Contemplate the scene, gaze upon the image of this World Cup, and you may be inclined to agree with Spain’s coach, to reach out and touch faith. How else to comprehend this? You will have seen the picture and will certainly see it again, and still it won’t make sense.

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