The story behind the viral photo of Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal

Messi and Yamal: The baby photo that became football prophecy

Lamine Yamal’s first World Cup start has revived one of football’s most extraordinary photographs — an image of Lionel Messi bathing him as a baby during a charity campaign nearly two decades ago.

The Spain forward, now 18 and one of the brightest young talents in world football, was only a few months old when he was photographed with Messi in 2007.

At the time, Messi was still emerging as Barcelona’s next superstar, while Yamal was an unknown baby from Rocafonda, a neighbourhood in Mataró, near Barcelona.

Nineteen years later, the image has taken on a new meaning.

Yamal is now being spoken of as one of the players capable of carrying Spain at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, while Messi’s place among the greatest players in football history has long been secured.

For many fans, the photograph now feels less like coincidence and more like a symbolic passing of football destiny.

A charity campaign that created history

The picture was taken as part of a charity calendar organised by Barcelona, the newspaper Sport and UNICEF.

The annual campaign featured players from Barcelona’s first team alongside children, with the proceeds supporting charitable causes.

Messi was one of the main figures selected for that year’s calendar.

Yamal’s parents, Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana, had entered their son into the NGO’s raffle while living in Rocafonda.

Yamal was one of the children chosen.

By chance, he was paired with Messi for the photoshoot.

In the now-famous image, Messi is seen gently holding and bathing the baby, who would later grow into one of Barcelona and Spain’s most exciting attacking players.

The moment was largely forgotten for years until Yamal’s father rediscovered the pictures and shared them on Instagram in 2024.

His caption gave the image fresh life: “The beginning of two legends.”

The photographer remembers the moment

Joan Monfort, the photographer who captured the image, said the shoot was not easy but remembered both Messi and the baby with warmth.

— Lamine was very charming. He won Messi over with two smiles. It was a complicated photo. Messi was even more shy back then. But he’s very professional and made everything easier. He was calm, patient, and cheerful. Holding the baby wasn’t his specialty, but he did it very well — reveals Joan Monfort, the photographer who took the picture that has been causing a stir on social media almost two decades later.

The photo has since spread widely online, not only because of Messi’s global status, but because of what Yamal has become.

What once looked like a simple charity image now appears to connect two generations of Barcelona brilliance.

Yamal steps into the spotlight

At Barcelona, Yamal has already been described by many as a player capable of carrying the club’s next great era.

Such comparisons are heavy, especially when they involve Messi, but Yamal’s rise has made them difficult to avoid.

His speed, balance, confidence and creativity have made him one of Spain’s biggest hopes at the 2026 World Cup.

The tournament comes at a major moment in his young career.

He turns 19 in July, but he has already become one of the most watched players in the game.

For Spain, his presence offers unpredictability and attacking spark.

For Barcelona supporters, his journey carries a deeper emotional connection because of the viral image with Messi.

From UNICEF photo to UNICEF ambassador

The story has gained another layer because Yamal has now been named a UNICEF ambassador on the eve of the World Cup.

It brings the image full circle.

As a baby, he was part of a Barcelona and UNICEF charity campaign with Messi.

Now, as one of football’s brightest young stars, he is using his own platform to represent the same organisation.

The photograph may have been born out of coincidence, but its power has grown with time.

It links childhood, charity, Barcelona, Messi and the emergence of a new Spanish star.

For football fans, it is a reminder that the game often produces stories no scriptwriter could invent.

Nineteen years ago, Messi held a baby for a charity calendar.

Today, that baby is carrying Spain’s hopes at the World Cup.