There are moments in parenting that don’t seem important when they happen, but somehow become beautiful memories later.
On the 2nd of April 2025, my son sat down and sketched Lamine Yamal. Ten days later, on the 12th of April 2025, he drew Lionel Messi. At the time, they were simply two drawings by a boy who loves football and enjoys putting pencil to paper. We admired them, smiled, and moved on.
Fast forward to today.
Spain and Argentina meet in the final, and I found myself scrolling back to those sketches. It made me smile that, without either of us knowing, he had already drawn both sides of today’s story. Whichever team lifts the trophy tonight, one of his sketches will be the winner.
The only thing missing is him.
He’s away at boarding school, and I wish he were home so we could watch the match together, argue over every decision, celebrate every goal, and laugh at the funny moments.
Tonight, I’ll be watching for both of us with two sketches, one memory, and a heart that’s missing its favourite football companion.
