
Lamine Yamal (foto: Getty Images)
The viral photo of Lionel Messi with a baby Lamine Yamal has taken the internet by storm, revealing a remarkable backstory of their unexpected connection through a UNICEF charity event in 2007.
Lionel Messi is currently competing for another Copa America title with Argentina, while Lamine Yamal is making waves with Spain at the Euro in Germany. Their popularity surged recently due to a photograph posted by Yamal's father.
The photo features a four-month-old Lamine Yamal and a young Lionel Messi. The caption read: "The beginning of two legends." At that time, Messi was already a global sensation, having played in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and established himself in Barcelona's first team.
Taken in 2007 for a charity event organized by the Catalan newspaper "Sport", the photo shows Messi bathing baby Yamal. Many have hailed it as one of the best photos in Barcelona's history, with some humorously suggesting that Messi "transferred his powers" to the boy who is now one of the most talented footballers in the world.
The photo was part of a collaboration between "Sport", Barcelona, and UNICEF to create a charity calendar featuring club players with babies. The aim was to include photos of players with young children from the UNICEF program in Catalonia.
The process of selecting children for the calendar involved a lottery among interested parents, and fate led to Yamal's parents being chosen. They were invited to Camp Nou in December 2007, where Yamal was selected for the photo shoot. It was a stroke of destiny that paired Yamal with Lionel Messi, who is widely considered the greatest footballer of all time.
Photographers Joan Montfort and Oriol Canals captured the images in the locker room, unaware that 16 years later, the child they photographed would become one of the key players in that very room.
Today, Lamine Yamal appears ready to follow in Messi's footsteps, as his impressive skills make him a crucial player for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. His talent has shone brightly at the ongoing Euro, reinforcing his potential to become a football legend.