Messi reacts to 19-year-old photo with Lamine Yamal ahead of World Cup final | OneFootball

Lionel Messi has reflected on his viral baby-bath photo with Lamine Yamal as the pair head for a first on-pitch meeting in the World Cup final. According to Superdeporte, the image was taken for a UNICEF charity calendar when Yamal was only months old.

Speaking on Friday at a FIFA event, Messi said the picture felt like life coming full circle and that sharing a World Cup with the now Spain star is extraordinary.

He also praised the Barcelona forward, saying he has followed him closely because of his affection for the club. At 19, Yamal is already a global reference with his career ahead and a chance to achieve something historic.

The photo’s spread on social media has been so intense that, in an era of AI-generated fakes, a public verification confirmed it as genuine.

The image was shot by photographer Joan Monfort, who has described the coincidence of that session and this final as a miracle.

Source: Superdeporte