THE PHARAOH AND JUNIOR'S FAIRY TALE

THE PHARAOH AND JUNIOR'S FAIRY TALE They both play for Genoa today, but when they arrived at AC Milan, their stories went beyond football. Stephan El Shaarawy and Junior Messias were also known for the personal and family stories that shaped their lives before and during their time at the club. Early on, many assumed that the nickname "Il Faraone" (The Pharaoh) came solely from Stephan's Egyptian heritage through his father, who was born in Tanta, 94 km north of Cairo. In reality, it originated from a specific moment on the pitch. During a Primavera Championship final with Genoa , El Shaarawy scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Empoli, then celebrated in front of the stands with a gesture inspired by a pharaoh. During his time at AC Milan, which spanned from 2011 to 2015, his famous, distinctive mohawk further strengthened the visual association with the image of the "Pharaoh," making him a style icon for many young people at the time. Lorenzo Lollo Colombo also plays for Genoa . The striker from Vimercate overcame several serious injuries during his time in the Rossoneri youth academy through sheer determination before making his breakthrough. His path briefly crossed with Junior Messias' at AC Milan. In 2021, Colombo joined Cremonese on loan while the Brazilian moved from Crotone to Milanello. Before arriving at AC Milan, Junior Messias' story was one of sacrifice, humble jobs and a life-changing turning point linked to his faith. Born in Belo Horizonte in 1991 , he played in Cruzeiro's youth academy until the age of 17, but was released at 20, seemingly bringing his dream of becoming a professional footballer to an end. After moving to Turin to reunite with his family, Messias had to make ends meet through various jobs, playing amateur tournaments in his spare time with UISP . Then came Casale, Chieri, Gozzano, Crotone, AC Milan and the Scudetto. Match kits, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit AC Milan online Store !