A photograph that transcended time
The image, taken in 2007 for a UNICEF charity calendar, shows a teenage Lionel Messi gently holding a newborn swaddled in a blanket. The baby was Lamine Yamal, then an infant whose mother had won a local raffle that granted the family the chance to take part in the photoshoot with the football star.
The photograph remained largely unseen until the summer of 2024, when Yamal’s father shared it on social media during Spain’s run in the European Championship. The post sparked a wave of online attention, with fans marveling at the uncanny resemblance between the child in the picture and the 16‑year‑old sensation now lighting up international tournaments.
Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the original session, said he was stunned by the reaction. He admitted that he is now contemplating a trip to New Jersey, where the 2026 World Cup final will be staged, to witness the two players meet on the pitch. “It feels like a scene ripped from a screenplay,” he remarked.
Mikel Merino, a teammate of Yamal at the national side, initially questioned whether the picture had been digitally altered, such was the clarity of the coincidence. His skepticism was quickly replaced by admiration for the serendipity that links the two generations of Spanish football.
The upcoming final, scheduled to be played on home soil in the United States, adds another layer of intrigue. With the world watching, the encounter promises to blend youthful exuberance with the seasoned brilliance of a player who once held a baby in a charity portrait.