Argentina captain Lionel Messi has reacted to the viral photo of him bathing a five-month-old Lamine Yamal during a charity photoshoot in December 2007. The remarkable images were taken for a charity calendar when Messi was just beginning to establish himself at Barcelona.
Many people interpreted the photo as a symbolic moment, believing Messi was unknowingly passing the torch to his future successor by blessing a young talent destined for greatness. Although, Yamal’s father offered a different perspective, suggesting it may have been the other way around.
On Sunday, the duo will meet on the pitch for the first time as Argentina take on Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in New York on Friday, Messi described the photo as surreal, admitting it was hard to believe that the baby he once held would now be his opponent on football’s biggest stage.
“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.”
Messi, 39, also showered praise on the 19-year-old, saying he has always admired Yamal’s talent and wanted him to succeed, especially because of their shared connection to Barcelona.
“Lamine is a huge talent, someone I’ve followed a lot because he plays for a club I love and I always wish him the best, I always want the best for him. And, well, he’s one of the world’s benchmark players at 19 years old, and he has his whole career ahead of him. He has a great opportunity to achieve something historic, which we’ll try our hardest to make sure doesn’t happen this time. I just want to wish him the best.
“It’s crazy. He’s one of the best in the world right now, no doubt about it. And I wish him a lot of luck, because what’s good for him will also be good for Barcelona.”
The photos resurfaced in 2024 during the UEFA European Championship after Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared them on social media with the caption: “Life has these coincidences.”
Nasraoui later told Mundo Deportivo about the iconic images as Spain prepared for the Euro 2024 final against England, which they won 2-1, a day after Yamal celebrated his 17th birthday.
