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🚨Lamine Yamal on the letter Lionel Messi sent him after losing the Ballon d’Or to Harry Kane. 🗣️Reporter: Lamine, we heard Messi sent you a personal letter after the ceremony. What did he say to you? 🎙️Lamine Yamal: Honestly, that letter meant more to me than people can imagine. After losing, I tried to act like everything was fine. I congratulated Harry because he deserved his moment, but deep down, I was disappointed. I had dreamed of winning that award, and for a moment, I felt like I had let everyone down. Then Messi's letter arrived. Imagine being a young boy who grew up watching Lionel Messi, and one day, after the most disappointing night of your career, you receive a personal message from him. I sat there reading it, trying to process everything. He told me not to let one ceremony define my career. He reminded me that he didn't win his first Ballon d'Or until he was 22, and he eventually went on to win eight. He basically told me that I was still at the beginning of my journey, and there was no reason to allow one disappointment to make me question my future. But one part of his letter really touched me. He told me: "Lamine, never allow the desire to become the best player in the world to make you forget why you started playing football. Enjoy the game, keep learning, and let time tell your story. You don't have to prove everything today." I read those words several times. Coming from Messi, they meant everything. This is the man I watched growing up, the man who made me fall in love with football. He didn't tell me I deserved to win, and he didn't disrespect Harry Kane. He simply reminded me that my story is far from over. That was when I realised something. I had spent so much time thinking about winning the Ballon d'Or that I was forgetting how special it was just to be living my dream. I may have lost the award, but receiving that letter from Lionel Messi was something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. And one day, if a young player comes to me feeling the way I felt that night, I hope I can give him the same encouragement Messi gave me. Because legends aren't only remembered for the trophies they win. Sometimes, they're remembered for the people they inspire when they have nothing to gain.