Some images only reveal their true significance years later. That is exactly what is happening with Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. Photos from 2007 show the Argentine soccer star—then just beginning his legendary career—bathing a baby in a small tub. That baby was none other than Lamine Yamal, who has since become one of the biggest names in world soccer. Today, both are competing for the ultimate prize at the World Cup.
Lionel Messi Gave Little Lamine Yamal a Bath in 2007
The photos were taken for an FC Barcelona charity calendar. They show 20-year-old Messi with five-month-old Yamal, who is sitting in a baby tub covered in soap bubbles. In one image, Yamal’s mother, Sheila Ebana, helps the young star during the shoot; in another, Messi holds the baby wrapped in a towel in his arms.
Photographer Joan Monfort later explained to The Athletic why the images feel so extraordinary in hindsight: “Back then, nobody could imagine that this baby would be who he is now — and you could not have known that Messi would become who he became, either.”
Joan Monfort Recalls a Challenging Photo Shoot
The session was part of an annual charity campaign organized by UNICEF and local sports newspaper Diario Sport. Families from the Rocafonda neighborhood in Mataró had the chance to win a photo session with a Barça player at Camp Nou—and Yamal’s family won the opportunity.
Monfort recalled that Messi was initially uncomfortable with the unusual situation and had to adjust: “Messi is a really introverted guy, very timid and shy.” At first, he wasn’t even sure how to hold the baby, but the result became one of the most memorable soccer images in recent years.
Lamine Yamal and Messi in the World Cup Final
The story became even more fascinating as both players’ national teams advanced deep into the tournament. On July 7, Argentina defeated Egypt 3–2, with Messi, now 39, scoring a goal and making history as the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive knockout-round matches.
Yamal, 19, made his World Cup debut against Saudi Arabia and later helped Spain secure a 2–0 victory over Belgium. For a moment, it seemed possible that the two generations of soccer greatness could meet on the biggest stage of all: the World Cup final. Although that dream matchup never happened, their shared journey made the resurfaced photo even more remarkable.
