Baby Lamine Yamal Caused Lionel Messi an Awkward Moment During Iconic Photoshoot: 'He Had No Idea'

Following Yamal's breakout performance at Euro 2024, a striking photo suddenly went viral. It shows FC Barcelona player Lionel Messi holding a very young Yamal in a bath during a photoshoot. The Spanish forward's father shared the unique image on Instagram at the time with the caption: 'The beginning of two legends'.

The iconic photo originated in 2007 during a UNICEF charity event. For the campaign, FC Barcelona players posed with young children and their families. "UNICEF held a lottery near Roca Fonda in Mataró, where Lamine's family lived. They entered and won the chance to be photographed at Camp Nou with a Barça player," photographer Joan Montfort previously explained to AP news agency.

The Spaniard captured the special moment, unaware that years later he would possess a historic photograph. It was only years later that Montfort discovered the identity of the baby in his photos. A friend pointed out that the images were suddenly appearing everywhere online after Yamal's meteoric rise. The photographer, who has followed Barcelona around the world for years, has taken countless remarkable photos in his career, but nothing came close to the impact of these images. "It's very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation," he said.

Montfort vividly recalls it being a challenging task. "Messi didn't know how to handle baby Lamine. Messi is quite an introverted guy, he's shy. He came out of the dressing room and suddenly found himself in another dressing room with a plastic bath full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated..." the photographer admitted in 2024.

No one could have predicted in 2007 that these two would now meet in the World Cup final. Messi, now 39, is chasing another world title with Argentina, while 19-year-old Yamal is seen as the bright future of international football. The final kicks off on Sunday at 9:00 PM and promises to be a clash between a living legend and his potential successor.

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