Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona and Spain sensation, is on the brink of winning the World Cup at just 19 years old, having already secured the European Championship title in 2024. However, standing in his way is Argentina and Lionel Messi, the man who famously bathed him as a baby in a 2007 photoshoot for Spanish publication Diario Sport.
Yamal's Meteoric Rise
The teenager burst onto the international stage at Euro 2024, shattering records as the youngest player ever to appear in the tournament at 16 years and 338 days. Now, he aims to clinch both major international trophies when Spain faces Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday. Yamal has been recovering from an injury sustained before the tournament but showcased his brilliance in Spain's semi-final victory over France. Meanwhile, Messi orchestrated Argentina's win over England in the semi-finals, dismantling Thomas Tuchel's low block in the final 20 minutes.
The Iconic Baby Bath Photo
Nearly 20 years ago, a 20-year-old Messi participated in a charity photoshoot for UNICEF, organized by Diario Sport. During the session, photographer Joan Monfort captured images of Messi holding and bathing a baby—who would later become Lamine Yamal. Monfort described the shoot as challenging, telling The Athletic: 'It was a difficult photo to take. We can say I sweated some blood to take it. Messi is still shy now; he was much more shy when he was starting out and he finds himself there with a tiny baby in a plastic bath full of water. With his mother. At the start, there was not much interaction. It was difficult for all of them. But, bit by bit, it started to happen and in the end, it's a pretty good photo.'
Fans Believe Messi 'Blessed' Yamal
After Yamal's father shared the photos on social media, they went viral, with fans suggesting Messi had 'blessed' the youngster with his talent. One fan on X wrote that other children would be jealous they weren't 'blessed' by the superstar. Another remarked: 'Messi holding baby Yamal. The guy was blessed by the OG from young, special things to come.' Monfort reflected on the serendipity, saying: 'It's something incredible. Back then, nobody could imagine that this baby would be who he is now—and you could not have known that Messi would become who he became, either. We are talking about 2007. Messi was only beginning at Barca then. Destiny plays an important role in these things.'
Historic Final Awaits
Sunday's final marks the first time Messi and Yamal will face each other on the pitch. Yamal, now a European champion, seeks to add the World Cup to his accolades before turning 20. Messi, already a World Cup winner in 2022, aims to defend Argentina's title. The match promises to be a historic encounter, with the two Barcelona stars connected by a photograph taken nearly two decades ago.
