Incredible Footage of Sports Stars When They Were Young

Lionel Messi's superb ball-handling skills didn't develop overnight. The FC Barcelona forward had apparent talent even in his youth, and there is video evidence to prove it.

Behold, a collection of rare footage depicting sports stars when they were young—from Tiger Woods at age two to a high school-age Kobe Bryant. Each video represents a unique chance to look at stars before they were stars (or at least before they were major stars). 

The videos aren't all of pristine quality, but then again, some of them are over 20 years old.

Can't get enough rare sports footage? Check out Lost Tapes from Raw Sports and this collection of current NHLers from Oilers Nation.

Enjoy.

Memphis Depay, 2001

Manchester United midfielder Memphis Depay was something special, even at age seven. According to Joe.co.uk, the above video shows the young Dutchman playing for his club team, VV Moordrecht.

Most seven-year-old soccer players spend their time picking grass. Memphis spent his blowing past defenders and netting goals with his already impressive speed and agility.

LeBron James, High School

People knew early on LeBron James was something special. He led his high school to a state championship as a freshman and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior in in 2002.

In 2014, footage of a young James showed up in an ESPN Films and Disney XD special called Becoming. According to People.com, the special featured footage of James' high school career at St. Vincent-St. Mary and with the AAU's Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars.

Bryce Harper, 2009

Before the Washington Nationals drafted him No. 1 overall in 2010, Bryce Harper was showing off his swing at the AFLAC All-American Game.

This video shows a young Harper breaking wood during batting practice at the event in 2009. That swing sure was pretty—just like it is now—but this highlight video from MLB is even more impressive.

It includes highlights from Harper's brief stint at the College of Southern Nevada. Apparently that eye black isn't just a pro thing.

Sidney Crosby, 2002

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby inspired LeBron James-level draft hype in 2005. Over 10 years and two Hart Trophies later, it is clear the hype was real.

Young Crosby clips aren't exactly a dime a dozen, but a few years into the Kid's career, Redditor monximus (NSFW language on page) pointed to a stellar YouTube clip featuring the young phenom.   

According to the video, uploaded by hockey media personality George Stroumboulopoulos, some of the footage shown came from January 2002.

Tiger Woods, 1978

In 1978, Tiger Woods and his father appeared on The Mike Douglas Show with Bob Hope. Even at two years old, Woods' burgeoning golf acumen was evident.

According to Sean Martin of PGATour.com, Woods accomplished several other golf milestones at a young age, including a 48 on nine holes at age three and his first hole-in-one at age six.

Ronda Rousey, 2008

UFC fans can check out some of bantamweight Ronda Rousey's early footage, including her amateur debut in 2010, courtesy of ESPN's MMA Rewind.

Before all that, however, Rousey represented the United States in judo in two Olympic Games, 2004 and 2008, taking bronze in Beijing.   

Here she is in a quarterfinal match in 2008. Rousey ultimately lost to Edith Bosch of the Netherlands, but her badassery was evident even then.

Kobe Bryant, 1995

In 2014, Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation posted footage of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, circa his junior year of high school.

Playing for Lower Merion in Philadelphia, Bryant scored 29 second-half points in a key victory over Norristown. The postgame interview footage is a nice surprise, and it's classic, competitive Kobe.

Steven Stamkos, 2000

In 2013, Steve Dangle of Oilers Nation shared footage of several NHL stars playing in an annual youth tournament, the Brick Invitational. Included was Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos.

It looks like that famous goal-scoring ability started young. The passing wasn't bad either. 

Stephen Curry, Youth Camp

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry attended Five-Star Basketball Camp as a kid, and the camp posted a highlights video to its YouTube page in 2014. Turns out that sick crossover move of his was embarrassing defenders even then.  

Also impressive are Curry's high school highlights, provided by his alma mater, Charlotte Christian High School. He wasn't exactly a highly touted college recruit, but hindsight is 20-20, as they say, and that prep footage definitely foreshadowed things to come.

Derek Jeter, 1992

Retired shortstop Derek Jeter played his high school baseball in Kalamazoo, Michigan, before the New York Yankees took him at No. 6 in the 1992 amateur draft.  

Here is a video of the Captain warming up for a high school game in 1992, uploaded by YouTuber Jerry Weinstein. He might not be wearing his patented No. 2, but that infield swag and batting stance are unmistakably Jeter.

Steffi Graf, 1973

A clip from Wimbledon in 1987 appears to include footage of a four-year-old Steffi Graf showing off her on-court skills.

According to this video, uploaded to YouTube by tennisministry.org, the clip depicts a young Graf playing in her native Germany in 1973. According to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Graf first began to learn tennis at age three.  

Graf, the No. 2 seed in the 1987 tournament, went on to lose to Martina Navratilova in the final.

Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett, 1993

How about multiple stars in one vintage highlight? This YouTube video, courtesy of Chris Ternate of Behind the Arc, includes Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett, two undeniable talents who would go on to NBA greatness.

Garnett graduated from Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, and Iverson hailed from Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia. The footage is from the Nike Hoops Festival All-Star Game.

Michael Phelps, 1997

In August, American swimming legend Michael Phelps will compete in his fifth and, according to him, final Olympics.

According to Braden Keith of Swim Swam, YouTuber Jim Cooper shared a video of an 11-year-old Phelps competing in the 50-yard butterfly. He torched the competition in the preliminary event, still four years shy of his first Olympic Games.

Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Sam Bradford, 2005

Yes, that Sam Bradford. The ARHE YouTube channel posted highlights of an AAU basketball game that featured the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback as well as future NBA stars Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and Ty Lawson of the Indiana Pacers.

Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News reported Bradford and Griffin were AAU teammates, and Bradford averaged 18.6 points and 10.5 points per game as a high school basketball senior.

According to John Rohde of the Oklahoman, Durant and Lawson "are friends who grew up together on the AAU circuit and were teammates their junior seasons at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia."

Kelly Slater, 1990

In 1990, surfing legend Kelly Slater was not yet a legend but instead a promising young phenom going against (NSFW language) three-time world champion Tom Curren in his pro debut in Lacanau, France.   

ActionArchives posted this footage of the battle. Slater lost to Curren in their semifinal matchup, but the young American certainly impressed. He eventually went on to win 11 World Surf League titles.

In the video, Slater referenced another battle against Curren when he was just 14 years old. Now that would be fun to see.  

Michael Jordan, High School

There is a famous story about Michael Jordan being cut from his high school basketball team in North Carolina. In reality, he was merely sent down to junior varsity as a sophomore, according to Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don't Lie, which makes a lot more sense given his obvious talent as a high school teenager.

See for yourself, via this video from MaxPreps. There isn't a lot of game action shown, but the dunk near the beginning is quintessential MJ.

Check out this reel of the GOAT playing pickup ball in 1986, too. He was already in the NBA at the time, but it's still some solid behind-the-scenes footage.

This UNC mixtape is stellar, too. 

Mike Tyson, 1987

Former heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson has pretty much always been a scary dude. Just look at this GIF (NSFW language on the page) of him shadow-boxing, posted by Redditor nholiver.

Now, take a look at this video, aptly titled "Young Mike Tyson Destroys the Pads," of the young boxer annihilating the hands of his trainer. According to the caption, posted by Tyson's YouTube channel, the footage is from 1987, and the hands-of-steel trainer was Kevin Rooney.

Marshawn Lynch

In honor of former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch's retirement, behold his performance in the 2003 Oakland Athletic League championship, aka the Silver Bowl. To the surprise of no one, it looks like Lynch has always been a bruiser. 

According to Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group, Lynch was a huge part of Oakland Tech's victory over Skyline. In 2015, Mario Bobino, owner of Debonair Productions, which handled the Silver Bowl's broadcast, said, "The way he runs now, that was the same exact way he ran that game," per Thompson.

Wayne Gretzky, Age 14

Like most of the greats do, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky displayed his immense talent from a young age. Check out this piece from image library CTVNewsStox, depicting highlights of a 14-year-old Great One scoring goals and rocking an absurd, yet delightful, haircut.

According to Oilers Nation, by the time he was 10, Gretzky had scored 378 goals with the Brantford Steelers of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. 

Lionel Messi, 1995

If archival YouTube videos are any indicator, then Lionel Messi has been embarrassing defenders for a very long time. Really, look at this golden footage from Messi circa age 12 (per Mashable) and age 10.  

According to Oliver Platt of Goal.com, the FC Barcelona great played for club teams Newell's Old Boys and Central Cordoba in his home country of Argentina in his youth. Platt shared this footage of Messi throwing sick moves on defenders all the way back at age eight.

But perhaps even more impressive is this amazing goal from the grade-school-aged future legend.