As Spain prepares to face Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, a viral photo of Lionel Messi holding baby Lamine Yamal has resurfaced, sparking widespread reactions ahead of the historic clash.
Defending champions Argentina secured their place in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, after edging England 2-1.
The victory sets up a blockbuster showdown between 39-year-old football icon Messi and Spain's 19-year-old sensation, Yamal.
Although they will be rivals on football's biggest stage, the pair share a remarkable history.
They first met nearly two decades ago when Yamal was an infant, and Messi was a 20-year-old rising star at Barcelona.
According to The Associated Press, the now iconic images were taken in 2007 at Barcelona's Camp Nou.
Yamal's family had won a charity raffle organised by a local newspaper and UNICEF, earning the chance to be photographed with a Barcelona player.
Freelance photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the moment for a charity calendar, recalled that the photoshoot was both awkward and heartwarming. He said the shy young Messi appeared nervous and initially did not know how to hold the baby, who was sitting in a small plastic bathtub.
"We made the calendar with the help of UNICEF. So, UNICEF did a raffle in the neighbourhood of Roca Fonda in Mataró, where Lamine's family lived. They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barça player. And they won the raffle," Monfort told the outlet in 2024.
He added, "The stars aligned when Lamine met Messi, but it was very difficult. Messi is very introverted and shy. He entered the changing room to find a plastic bathtub filled with water and a baby inside. At first, he did not know how to hold Yamal."
Years later, Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared the photo on Instagram with the caption, "The beginning of two legends."
Monfort also reflected on the image's lasting impact.
"It's very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation. To tell you the truth, it's a very nice feeling," he said.
Few could have imagined that the baby in the bathtub would one day face Messi in a World Cup final.
Since making his professional debut at just 15, Yamal has enjoyed a meteoric rise, winning three LaLiga titles and a European Championship, and is now preparing to challenge one of football's greatest players on the sport's biggest stage.