Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will face each other in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, completing an extraordinary story that began with a UNICEF photoshoot nearly 20 years ago.
In 2007, a 20-year-old Messi posed with five-month-old Yamal after the baby’s family won a UNICEF raffle to meet a Barcelona player for the 2008 charity calendar.
One of the photos showed Messi helping Yamal’s mother, Sheila Ebana, bathe the smiling infant in a blue plastic tub.
UNICEF’s Laia Ruich said, “The photographer, Joan Monfort, has said that Lamine Yamal stole Messi’s heart because he was always smiling.”
Now aged 39, Messi is preparing for what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance, while 19-year-old Yamal is playing in his first final after rising through Barcelona’s ranks.
Speaking at a fan event in Manhattan, Messi said, “That photo is incredible. I took a picture with him when he was a baby … the fact that we’re both playing in the World Cup now is crazy.”
The Argentina captain added, “I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success, (but) we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best. He’s 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him. I wish him the best, but we’ll give it our all to ensure he doesn’t become champion this time.”
Photographer Joan Monfort described their reunion as “a true miracle of destiny,” adding, “If you wrote this in a film it would not seem possible.”
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino admitted, “The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn’t even real. It’s unbelievable that two of the best players to have played the game — and hopefully Lamine, in the future, will be one of those — share a picture like that.”
Both Messi and Yamal now serve as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, with Yamal saying in June, “Growing up, all I had was a family, a ball, a park and a dream. Playing football gave me structure, a sense of belonging, and hope for the future. I know how important it is for children to have a safe place to play, so that they can simply enjoy being children.”
