A set of nearly two-decade-old photographs featuring Lionel Messi and Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal has resurfaced ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, highlighting an extraordinary connection between the two footballers.
The images, taken in 2007 during a charity campaign involving FC Barcelona, UNICEF and a local newspaper, show a 20-year-old Messi posing with six-month-old Lamine Yamal during a promotional photoshoot. Now, 19 years later, the pair are set to meet on opposite sides in the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
A Chance Photoshoot That Became Historic
According to reports, Lamine Yamal was selected for the charity photoshoot through a random draw. The photographs featured Messi gently holding and bathing the infant in a small plastic tub, while Yamal’s mother was also present during the session.
Photographer Joan Monfort recalled that Messi, then at the beginning of his professional career, was initially shy and unsure about how to hold the baby during the shoot.
Viral Photos Return Ahead Of World Cup Final
The photographs have regained widespread attention on social media as fans reflect on the remarkable journey from that charity event to the sport’s biggest stage.
A light-hearted remark made after the photoshoot—that Messi had “blessed” the child—has also resurfaced online, adding to the story’s popularity among football supporters.
On Sunday, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are expected to face each other when Argentina take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, creating one of the tournament’s most memorable storylines.
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