Spain: Football fans around the world are revisiting a remarkable set of photographs taken nearly two decades ago after images of Lionel Messi holding and bathing a baby Lamine Yamal resurfaced ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final. The heartwarming pictures have gone viral as Argentina’s veteran captain and Spain’s teenage sensation prepare to meet on football’s biggest stage.
The photographs were taken in 2007 during a charity event organised by UNICEF and Barcelona. Yamal’s family had won a raffle that offered participants the chance to take part in a photoshoot with a first-team Barcelona player. Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the session, said the images were taken when Yamal was only a few months old.
The photos first gained widespread attention during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament after Yamal’s father shared one of the images on social media with the caption, “The beginning of two legends.” The post quickly spread online as Yamal became the youngest player to feature in the European Championship, adding new meaning to the memorable photographs.
Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real.
More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot.
Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices… pic.twitter.com/TSoUPDxia2
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) July 16, 2026
Now, with the pair preparing to face each other in the World Cup final in New Jersey, the images have resurfaced once again, prompting fans to describe the moment as football coming “full circle.” Supporters across social media have shared the photos widely, celebrating the unlikely connection between one of the game’s greatest players and one of its brightest young talents.
Messi, now 39, is regarded as one of football’s greatest-ever players after winning numerous domestic and international titles, including the FIFA World Cup. Yamal, 19, has quickly established himself as one of Spain’s biggest stars, earning praise for his performances with both his national team and Barcelona.
The resurfaced photographs have added an emotional storyline to an already highly anticipated World Cup final. For many fans, the images symbolise the passing of football’s legacy from one generation to the next, making Sunday’s showdown between Messi and Yamal even more memorable.
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