KEY POINTS

  • Lionel Messi’s son Thiago scored two goals in a Barca youth game
  • Playing alongside Thiago were Benja Suarez who also scored a goal of his own
  • Gerard Pique’s son Milan was also playing alongside the two young prospects

We may have seen the future of Barcelona, maybe even the future or international football.

Videos have been circling around the internet about Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s son already working on his football skills. The seven-year Thiago is already showing flashes of his father’s style of play on the pitch while playing with his fellow kids during a Barca kids game posted on SportsBible.

On the clip that was taken during the FC Barcelona Escola on March 1, the seven-year-old was wearing a familiar number at his back – no. 10 just like his father – and scored two goals on their 9-2 win. The younger Messi may have inherited those strides as he gathers the ball and took the perfect time for the strike that sent the ball across the goalie. The Argentine star’s first-born junior is also learning the tricks of misdirection as he targeted the left side of the goal, capitalizing the keeper’s decision to cover the right side.

Thiago appears to hit the back of the net with his right foot, which is the opposite of what the Barca’s top-scorer used to do.

Luis Suarez’s son Benjamin was also playing alongside Thiago and the younger Suarez also contributed with a goal of his own after his defender stumbled while defending him and kicked the ball strong enough to get past the goalie’s hands. He then went for a Klinsmann dive to celebrate his goal after Thiago’s own on a video posted on Twitter.

Also playing alongside the younger Messi and Suarez is Barca’s defender Gerard Pique’s son Milan as the football icons are now starting to pass on their experience to their sons.

Messi is now 32 years old and there may be just a few more years before we see him run up and down the pitch and only time will tell when his oldest son takes the spotlight and emulate his father’s illustrious career.

Lionel Messi scored the winner as Barcelona beat Granada on Sunday in Quique Setien's first game in charge.
Lionel Messi scored the winner as Barcelona beat Granada on Sunday in Quique Setien's first game in charge. AFP / LLUIS GENE