2007 Messi–Yamal photo shoot

Charity photography session in Barcelona July 2026 thumb|270x270px|20-year-old Lionel Messi bathing five-month-old Lamine Yamal In December 2007, 20-year-old Argentine footballer Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with five-month-old Lamine Yamal as part of a collaboration between Sport, a Catalan sports newspaper, FC Barcelona, and UNICEF to produce a fundraising calendar. Messi, then a rising star at Barcelona, was paired with Yamal by coincidence following a raffle won by Yamal's parents. The photographs remained largely obscure until July 2024, when Yamal's father shared them on social media ahead of a UEFA Euro 2024 match where Yamal played, at which point they gained widespread attention. The captures Messi, then at the start of what would become one of the greatest careers in football history, bathing Yamal, who would later emerge as one of the sport's most prominent young players. The images attracted renewed attention in July 2026 ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, in which Yamal, by then 19 years old and a rising football star, faced Messi, aged 39, who was approaching the end of his accomplished career. Background Lionel Messi is an Argentine footballer and former FC Barcelona player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. In December 2007, when the photograph was taken, Messi was a 20-year-old rising star at the club, having joined the senior team three years earlier and already won two La Liga titles and a Champions League title.Corrigan Dermot 6 July 2026 The remarkable story of Lionel Messi's meeting with a baby Lamine Yamal https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5614184/2026/07/06/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-photo-barcelona/ The Athletic 16 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260716185356/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5614184/2026/07/06/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-photo-barcelona/ live limitedBaxter Kevin 17 July 2026 Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, stars of iconic photo shoot, to battle for World Cup crown https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2026-07-17/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-are-long-linked-stars-of-world-cup-final subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20260721090844/https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2026-07-17/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-are-long-linked-stars-of-world-cup-final 21 July 2026 Los Angeles Times Lamine Yamal is a Spanish footballer who started playing in Barcelona in 2023, two years after Messi left the club. Yamal is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world. At the time of the photograph, he was five months old.Wilson Joseph 18 July 2026 Lionel Messi once held baby Lamine Yamal in his arms. Now they will battle for the World Cup title https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/world-cup/lionel-messi-once-held-baby-lamine-yamal-in-his-arms-now-they-will-battle-for-the-world-cup-title/ Associated Press The Seattle Times 22 July 2026 21 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260722065032/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/world-cup/lionel-messi-once-held-baby-lamine-yamal-in-his-arms-now-they-will-battle-for-the-world-cup-title/ live The photo shoot originated as part of a humanitarian collaboration between Sport, a Catalan sports newspaper, FC Barcelona, and UNICEF to produce a fundraising calendar, a partnership the three organizations had maintained since 2004.16 July 2026 The dream meeting in world football that the Barça Foundation had already foreseen https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/4537217/the-dream-meeting-in-world-football-that-the-barca-foundation-had-already-foreseen FC Barcelona 22 July 2026 21 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260722030402/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/4537217/the-dream-meeting-in-world-football-that-the-barca-foundation-had-already-foreseen live The concept was conceived by former Sport director Josep Maria Casanovas and organized by marketing employee Oriol Canals Vaquer ca Oriol Canals Vaquer and fellow journalist Joan Vehils,Boti David 16 July 2026 El origen de la foto de Messi y Lamine de SPORT que se ha vuelto viral antes de la final del Mundial entre España y Argentina https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/origen-foto-viral-messi-banando-lamine-yamal-105064514 Sport Spanish 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723214840/https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/origen-foto-viral-messi-banando-lamine-yamal-105064514 live Vehils Joan 16 July 2026 La única verdad de la foto histórica de SPORT de Messi y Lamine https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/unica-foto-historica-sport-messi-132529576 Sport Spanish 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723220949/https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/unica-foto-historica-sport-messi-132529576 live with Barcelona selecting the participating players and UNICEF organizing the raffle to determine the winning families. According to Sport, the early editions of the calendar were poorly coordinated, though organization improved in later years, including the 2008 edition.Munar Toni 11 August 2025 Oriol Canals: 'Flipé mucho cuando vi que esa foto de Messi y Lamine era nuestra' https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/cultura/oriol-canals-flipe-vi-foto-ev-120232470 Sport Spanish 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723215950/https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/cultura/oriol-canals-flipe-vi-foto-ev-120232470 live For that edition, UNICEF organized a community raffle in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataró, Catalonia, to select participating children from the Greater Barcelona area,Lowe Sid 9 July 2024 ‘The beginning of two legends’: Messi photos with baby Lamine Yamal go viral https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/09/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-baby-photos-spain The Guardian 16 July 2026Porzio Francesco 16 July 2026 How Lionel Messi's iconic photo with baby Lamine Yamal came to be as Argentina, Spain prep for World Cup final https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/how-lionel-messis-photo-baby-lamine-yamal-came-to-be-argentina-spain-world-cup-final-2026/ CBS News 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723200909/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/how-lionel-messis-photo-baby-lamine-yamal-came-to-be-argentina-spain-world-cup-final-2026/ live with no formal marketing strategy or long-term promotional vision in place. Yamal's parents, Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana, entered him into the raffle, winning a place in the shoot alongside a member of the FC Barcelona first team.Whitebloom Grey 17 July 2026 How Lionel Messi Ended Up Bathing a Baby Lamine Yamal https://www.si.com/soccer/how-lionel-messi-bathing-baby-lamine-yamal 19 July 2026 Sports Illustrated 18 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718084914/https://www.si.com/soccer/how-lionel-messi-bathing-baby-lamine-yamal live Photo shoot The session was captured by freelance photojournalist Joan Monfort inside the visitors' dressing room at the Camp Nou in December 2007, with Yamal paired alongside Messi entirely by chance.Austin Daniel 16 July 2026 'A true miracle of destiny' – Messi and Lamine Yamal's incredible first meeting https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9w0j104rvgo BBC News 18 July 2026 20 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718093351/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9w0j104rvgo live The concept was conceived by Monfort the night before while bathing his own daughter Jana, prompting him to bring a small plastic tub and a rubber duck to the session.Lowe Sid 17 July 2026 God’s will? Destiny? Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, that photo and the World Cup final https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/17/gods-will-destiny-lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-that-photo-and-the-world-cup-final The GuardianMorse Ben Riddell Don 14 July 2026 'One in a billion': Photographer who captured Lionel Messi with a baby Lamine Yamal details rare shoot after photos resurface https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/sport/lamine-yamal-lionel-messi-photoshoot-2007-spt-intl CNN 27 April 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260427052916/https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/sport/lamine-yamal-lionel-messi-photoshoot-2007-spt-intl live The photographs include images of Messi bathing Yamal alone in the tub, another of Yamal's mother assisting Messi in the same setting, and a further shot of Messi cradling the infant in a towel,11 July 2026 Lionel Messi Once Bathed Baby Lamine Yamal. Now, They Could Face Off In the World Cup https://www.today.com/popculture/news/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-baby-bathed-throwback-rcna353523 15 July 2026 Today en Yam Kimmy 15 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260715070710/https://www.today.com/popculture/news/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-baby-bathed-throwback-rcna353523 live with the rubber duck used to engage Yamal during the session.Ojeda Julian 18 July 2026 What is the story behind viral Lionel Messi-Lamine Yamal photo? https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/story-behind-viral-lionel-messi-160514191.html ClutchPoints Yahoo Sports 23 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723105946/https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/story-behind-viral-lionel-messi-160514191.html live Singh Pragjyoti 19 July 2026 Is Lionel Messi Related to Lamine Yamal? Diving Deep Into Their Viral Photo on the Internet https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lionel-messi-related-lamine-yamal-185500972.html Athlon Sports Yahoo Sports 19 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260719222055/https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lionel-messi-related-lamine-yamal-185500972.html live Monfort noted that shoots of this nature presented distinct challenges, as the players were often in a rush, unfamiliar with the families, and capturing candid images required all parties to feel at ease. Messi arrived from the dressing room to the set notably introverted and uncomfortable handling a baby,Pollard Kyle 15 July 2026 World Cup final: The story behind Lionel Messi's famous photo with a baby Lamine Yamal https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-16/world-cup-2026-lionel-messi-and-lamine-yamal-photo/106921606 ABC News 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723225506/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-16/world-cup-2026-lionel-messi-and-lamine-yamal-photo/106921606 live initially unsure of how to hold him. Yamal's mother played a key role in keeping the infant comfortable during the session. Initially there was little interaction between Messi and Yamal, though Messi adapted quickly and Monfort noted that he remained professional throughout.10 July 2024 'Beginning of two legends': Photos of Messi and baby Lamine Yamal resurface https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7206gj5w28o 15 July 2026 BBC News en-GB 3 October 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251003152507/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7206gj5w28o live Wright George subscription Following the session, Monfort provided Yamal's parents with copies of the photographs, noting that the family had travelled approximately 40 km (25 mi) and arrived early, visibly excited about the shoot. The 2008 UNICEF calendar featured players from the FC Barcelona squad managed by Frank Rijkaard, with each month dedicated to a different player paired with a family.18 July 2026 La intrahistoria del calendario solidario de SPORT con la histórica foto de Lamine Yamal y Messi https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/intrahistoria-calendario-solidario-sport-historica-132566507 live https://web.archive.org/web/20260721142544/https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/intrahistoria-calendario-solidario-sport-historica-132566507 21 July 2026 Sport Spanish Messi's photographs appeared in the January edition,Bernabe Angeline Jane 17 July 2026 How Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal's viral photo is coming full circle at the World Cup https://abc7ny.com/story/how-lionel-messi-lamine-yamals-viral-photo-is-coming-full-circle-world-cup/19526663/ ABC News 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723025950/https://abc7ny.com/story/how-lionel-messi-lamine-yamals-viral-photo-is-coming-full-circle-world-cup/19526663/ live with other months featuring Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Samuel Eto'o, Víctor Valdés, Deco, Bojan Krkić, Giovani dos Santos, Rafael Márquez, Yaya Touré, Eric Abidal, Lilian Thuram, and Sylvinho, each with different photo shoot set ups and themes. The players had no prior connection to the families they were paired with, and the photographs were archived following publication.15 July 2026 Messi And Yamal Have Met Before, At A Photoshoot When Spain's Star Was Just A Baby https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/messi-yamal-faceoff-world-cup-final-wont-first-meeting Fox Sports 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723025946/https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/messi-yamal-faceoff-world-cup-final-wont-first-meeting live Fifty percent of sales proceeds were directed toward funding UNICEF projects for children's rights.Ferguson Sarah Su Tong 16 July 2026 Messi Meets Lamine Yamal: The Story Behind the Photo Everyone's Talking About https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/messi-meets-lamine-yamal-story-behind-photo-everyones-talking-about UNICEF 18 July 2026 21 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718145501/https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/messi-meets-lamine-yamal-story-behind-photo-everyones-talking-about live The rubber duck used in the photo shoot has since been lost. "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," Monfort said.Edwards Luke 19 July 2026 Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal: The story behind bath photograph 19 years ago https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/07/16/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-story-behind-bath-photograph/ limited The Daily Telegraph Reception The photograph remained largely obscure until July 2024, having gone unremembered by Sport, Messi, Barcelona, and Monfort, though Yamal's father Nasraoui had retained knowledge of it. During the UEFA Euro 2024 quarterfinal between Spain and Germany, Nasraoui shared one of the images on Instagram with the caption El comienzo de dos leyendas (The beginning of two legends),Nasraoui, Mounir 4 July 2024 Post by @hustle_hard_304 https://www.instagram.com/p/C9AwXuKtlgB/?igsh=cGtmdmlyOW1lM2pq Instagram 19 July 2026Moto Lorena Austin Daniel 17 July 2026 'Es como cerrar un círculo perfecto': la historia detrás de la famosa foto de Messi bañando a Lamine Yamal contada por el fotógrafo que la tomó https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c8xnlyzgzlvo BBC Mundo Spanish 18 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718095708/https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c8xnlyzgzlvo live which immediately went viral. Yamal went on to help Spain claim the European title that tournament.Leahy Sean 15 July 2026 Lionel Messi, a 5-month-old Lamine Yamal and the bathtub photo shoot linking 2 soccer superstars https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/article/lionel-messi-a-5-month-old-lamine-yamal-and-the-bathtub-photo-shoot-linking-2-soccer-superstars-222032395.html Yahoo Sports Due to the coincidental nature of the images, some initially suspected they had been generated with artificial intelligence before archival verification confirmed their authenticity.Rodríguez José 15 July 2026 Is the photo of Lionel Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal real? The story behind the viral image before the World Cup Final https://www.marca.com/en/world-cup/2026/07/15/is-the-photo-of-lionel-messi-bathing-baby-lamine-yamal-real-the-story-behind-the-viral-image-before-the-world-cup-final.html Marca 18 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718010830/https://www.marca.com/en/world-cup/2026/07/15/is-the-photo-of-lionel-messi-bathing-baby-lamine-yamal-real-the-story-behind-the-viral-image-before-the-world-cup-final.html live Monfort expressed surprise at the renewed attention, having completely forgotten about the photoshoot until a colleague from Sport alerted him to the images trending online and asked whether they were his, which he confirmed.Morenatti Emilio Emilio Morenatti 9 July 2024 Photo of a young Lionel Messi with Lamine Yamal as a baby resurfaces after almost 17 years https://apnews.com/article/messi-yamal-euro-photo-59f929c17bc0994134e7b63facd0ea0e Associated Press 22 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260722211438/https://apnews.com/article/messi-yamal-euro-photo-59f929c17bc0994134e7b63facd0ea0e live He noted that following the viral spread of the photographs, he was inundated with inquiries from media outlets and received no additional compensation for their reproduction. Monfort described the photographs as the most personally rewarding work of his photography career. horizontal Lionel Messi Argentina v Egypt 7 July 2026-112(cropped).jpg Lamine Yamal France v Spain 7.24.26-162.jpg Messi (left) and Yamal (right) at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The two went on to face each other in the final, representing Argentina and Spain, respectively. 300 After the images resurfaced, Yamal spoke to the press, stating that he had been aware of them but had decided with his father not to make them public earlier to avoid comparisons with Messi. In a July 2024 interview, Yamal said he had not yet spoken to Messi about the photographs but wished to do so. When asked whether such comparisons bothered him, Yamal said he did not mind being compared to Messi but acknowledged that the accomplishments Messi had set as a player would be difficult to reach.12 July 2024 Lamine Yamal habló de su icónica foto con Messi y explicó por qué no quiere ser comparado con el argentino https://www.infobae.com/deportes/2024/07/12/lamine-yamal-hablo-de-su-iconica-foto-con-messi-y-explico-por-que-no-quiere-ser-comparado-con-el-argentino/ Infobae Spanish 7 October 2024 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20241007215703/https://www.infobae.com/deportes/2024/07/12/lamine-yamal-hablo-de-su-iconica-foto-con-messi-y-explico-por-que-no-quiere-ser-comparado-con-el-argentino/ live When a reporter suggested the photograph looked like a blessing from Messi, Yamal's father joked, "Maybe it was Lamine who blessed Leo!", adding that the odds of the two being photographed together at such early stages of their respective lives were remarkable.Burton Chris 11 July 2024 'Maybe it was Lamine Yamal who blessed Lionel Messi!' – Barcelona wonderkid's father jokes about epic photo and says he knew record-breaking Euro 2024 finalist was ‘going to be a star’ https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/lamine-yamal-blessed-lionel-messi-barcelona-wonderkid-father-jokes-epic-photo-euro-2024-finalist-star/bltb0a590fba94587f0 Goal (website)Bakero Lorea 11 July 2024 El padre de Lamine Yamal presume: 'Cuando él nació yo ya sabía que iba a ser una estrella' https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20240711/1002280011/padre-lamine-yamal-presume-nacio-sabia-iba-estrella.html Mundo Deportivo Spanish 16 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260716182156/https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20240711/1002280011/padre-lamine-yamal-presume-nacio-sabia-iba-estrella.html live That month, Barcelona described the photographs as among the "most iconic football pictures ever taken".10 July 2025 Magical photo by the FC Barcelona Foundation https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/4055530/magical-photo-by-the-fc-barcelona-foundation live https://web.archive.org/web/20240715081906/https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/4055530/magical-photo-by-the-fc-barcelona-foundation 15 July 2024 FC Barcelona The photographs attracted a second wave of international media coverage in July 2026 ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina,Riera Andrea 17 July 2026 Una foto de SPORT de 2007 con Messi y Lamine Yamal se convierte en un fenómeno mundial antes de la final https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/mundial-futbol/foto-sport-2007-messi-lamine-yamal-fenomeno-mundial-final-132542597 Sport Spanish 24 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260724101305/https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/mundial-futbol/foto-sport-2007-messi-lamine-yamal-fenomeno-mundial-final-132542597 live where Messi and Yamal would meet on the pitch for the first time.Messi and Yamal were expected to meet earlier in March 2026 during the 2026 Finalissima, but the match was cancelled.Corrigan Dermot Tenorio Paul 19 July 2026 Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal’s path from ‘crazy’ baby photos in a bath to World Cup final https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7451807/2026/07/17/world-cup-messi-yamal-photos/?eafs_enabled=false The Athletic limited During a joint pre-match panel in New York on 17 July alongside American football player Tom Brady,Azzoni Tales 17 July 2026 Lionel Messi speaks in advance of World Cup final, says Argentina 'will give it our all' https://apnews.com/article/messi-argentina-world-cup-final-82ad1be062f7716d6107f4a001220b81 Associated Press via Fox Sports 19 July 2026 18 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718080211/https://apnews.com/article/messi-argentina-world-cup-final-82ad1be062f7716d6107f4a001220b81 live Messi addressed the coincidence publicly, stating: "Honestly, that photo of us is crazy, because — well, that's life, right? I took a photo with him as a baby, and here we both are, facing off in a World Cup".‘Just crazy’: Messi on 2007 baby photo with Spain’s Lamine Yamal https://www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts/-just-crazy-messi-on-2007-baby-photo-with-spain-s-lamine-yamal-266916421673 19 July 2026 NBC News en Messi described Yamal as one of the best players in the world and noted that he followed his career closely given his connection to Barcelona, where Messi spent much of his career, and a club he holds in high regard. He also acknowledged that the World Cup final represented a historic moment in Yamal's career.Yam Kimmy 18 July 2026 Lionel Messi Finally Addresses Iconic Photo Of Him Bathing Baby Lamine Yamal: ‘It’s Craziness’ https://www.today.com/popculture/news/lionel-messi-addresses-lamine-yamal-photo-fanatics-fest-rcna588150 Today 21 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260721172855/https://www.today.com/popculture/news/lionel-messi-addresses-lamine-yamal-photo-fanatics-fest-rcna588150 live FIFA and several media outlets described the images as "prophetic", with some characterizing it as a symbolic "baptism" in which one of the sport's greatest players (Messi) unknowingly "anointed" a future star (Yamal) as his "heir".Multiple sources: Craw Victoria 16 July 2026 19-year-old photos of Messi and a baby Yamal are delighting soccer fans https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/07/16/19-year-old-photos-messi-baby-yamal-are-delighting-soccer-fans/ 19 July 2026 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 Lowe Sid 16 August 2024 'Destiny' brought Messi, Yamal together for iconic photo https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40882536/destiny-brought-barcelona-lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-together-iconic-photo ESPN 18 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718103656/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40882536/destiny-brought-barcelona-lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-together-iconic-photo live 15 July 2026 The story behind the viral Messi and Yamal baby photo https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/messi-yamal-baby-photo-explained-by-men-behind-it FIFA 20 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260720094256/https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/messi-yamal-baby-photo-explained-by-men-behind-it live Collins Ben 18 July 2026 Messi and Brady in disbelief over 'prophetic' Lamine Yamal photo https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c5yejxqll3go BBC News 18 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718183847/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c5yejxqll3go live 9 July 2026 The Lore Of Lamine Yamal: From The Lionel Messi Baby Picture To The 2026 World Cup https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lore-lamine-yamal-from-lionel-messi-baby-picture-2026-world-cup Fox Sports 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723032216/https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lore-lamine-yamal-from-lionel-messi-baby-picture-2026-world-cup live Comparisons between Messi and Yamal have been drawn since Yamal made his debut for Barcelona in 2023,Ballús Pol 16 July 2025 Lamine Yamal and Barcelona’s No 10 shirt: A blessing and a curse he is more than ready for https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6462296/2025/07/16/lamine-yamal-lionel-messi-ansu-fati-no-10/ limited live https://web.archive.org/web/20251026172809/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6462296/2025/07/16/lamine-yamal-lionel-messi-ansu-fati-no-10/ 26 October 2025 The Athletic since when he has won multiple La Liga titles, a UEFA European Championship, and the FIFA World Cup.Wright Chris 17 July 2026 Messi first met future World Cup final opponent Yamal as a baby https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40532807/lionel-messi-baby-lamine-yamal-barcelona-spain-argentina-world-cup-final ESPN 18 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718041807/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40532807/lionel-messi-baby-lamine-yamal-barcelona-spain-argentina-world-cup-final live When the two met in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, won by Spain 1–0 over Argentina, the encounter was widely described as a "full circle" moment symbolic of a generational transition in football, with Messi (aged 39) approaching the end of an illustrious career and Yamal (aged 19), regarded as one of the sport's most promising talents, at the start of his.Multiple sources: 19 July 2026 How fresh Messi-Yamal image signals changing of the guard https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/how-fresh-messi-yamal-image-signals-changing-of-the-guard live https://web.archive.org/web/20260721003339/https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/how-fresh-messi-yamal-image-signals-changing-of-the-guard 21 July 2026 FIFA Bernabe Angeline Jane 20 July 2026 How Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal's viral photo came full circle at the World Cup https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/lionel-messi-lamine-yamals-viral-baby-photo/story?id=134805177 ABC News 18 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260718103656/https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/lionel-messi-lamine-yamals-viral-baby-photo/story?id=134805177 live Woollard Rob 18 July 2026 Messi, Yamal come full circle in World Cup showdown https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/messi-yamal-come-full-circle-131223830.html Agence France-Presse Yahoo Sports 23 July 2026 23 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260723032231/https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/messi-yamal-come-full-circle-131223830.html live Vertelney Seth 19 July 2026 Did Messi actually hold Lamine Yamal as a baby? What to know about photo https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2026/07/19/messi-holding-lamine-yamal-baby-photo/90972721007/ USA Today 20 July 2026 25 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260720091748/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2026/07/19/messi-holding-lamine-yamal-baby-photo/90972721007/ live In popular culture On 21 July 2026, American trading card manufacturer Topps announced it would feature the 2007 photograph in an upcoming card release.Arya Yosua 21 July 2026 Topps turns iconic photo of Lionel Messi holding infant Lamine Yamal into 1-of-1 trading card after 'crazy' World Cup final meeting https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/topps-lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-trading-card-world-cup-photo/blt37f94a12b23c5cbb Goal (website) 25 July 2026 22 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260725040520/https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/topps-lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-trading-card-world-cup-photo/blt37f94a12b23c5cbb live The card is scheduled to be included in the Topps Stadium Club UEFA Club Competitions set as a one-of-one (1/1) card, meaning that only that particular version of the card will be produced and randomly inserted into packs for sale.Peck Brooks 20 July 2026 Topps turns Messi with baby Lamine Yamal, World Cup halftime show into trading cards https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7448860/2026/07/20/topps-messi-lamine-yamal-justin-bieber-coldplay/?eafs_enabled=false The Athletic Following Spain's 1–0 win against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, various AI-generated images and videos circulated on social platforms parodying the photo, typically depicting a role reversal with Yamal depicted washing a baby Messi.20 July 2026 The story behind AI video of Lamine Yamal bathing Lionel Messi https://www.newsweek.com/lionel-messi-lamine-yamal-ai-video-bathing-bathtub-world-cup-spain-argentina-victory-12217447 22 July 2026 Newsweek en King JordanThree ways AI told the story of the 2026 World Cup https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zxk3nk7 22 July 2026 BBC Bitesize en-GB The Indian and South African Instagram pages of fast food brands Wendy's and KFC respectively also joined in the trend, the former posting an AI image depicting both footballers as anthropomorphic goats (a visual double entendre referring to both players as GOATs) and the latter depicting Colonel Sanders, the founder and mascot of KFC, bathing a baby Ronald McDonald.Reid Ru 20 July 2026 5 Brands Jumped on the Viral Messi-Yamal Bathtub Photo https://news.designrush.com/brands-messi-yamal-bathtub-photo-trend 22 July 2026 DesignRush en Notes References Category:2000s photographs Category:UNICEF Category:Lionel Messi Category:FC Barcelona Messi-Yamal photo Messi-Yamal photo Category:2026 in Internet culture