Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal's 2007 photo resurfaces ahead of 2026 World Cup final clash
Consensus Summary
Three news outlets recount the serendipitous 2007 photo shoot between 20-year-old Lionel Messi and infant Lamine Yamal, which resurfaced ahead of their 2026 World Cup final clash. The image, taken in December 2007 at Camp Nou as part of a UNICEF calendar raffle, shows Messi awkwardly holding Yamal in a plastic tub. Yamal, now 19, became Spainâs youngest-ever player and scorer after debuting at Barcelona in 2023 and starring in the 2024 Euros, where he scored a semi-final winner against France. Messi, 39, is chasing a second consecutive World Cup title, tying with Kylian Mbappe for the tournamentâs top scorer with eight goals. Their final will take place on Monday morning (AEST), with Spain having defeated France 2-0 in the semi-final. Yamalâs three-year-old brother, Keyne, has also gained attention as an online star during the tournament. The story highlights the unlikely connection between two future football legends, with Yamalâs father posting the 2007 photo in 2024 and captioning it 'the beginning of two legends'.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A photo shoot between 20-year-old Lionel Messi and baby Lamine Yamal took place in December 2007 at Camp Nou
- The photo shoot was part of a UNICEF calendar raffle won by Yamalâs family, who were Barcelona locals
- Lamine Yamal made his senior debut at Barcelona as a 15-year-old in 2023 and became Spainâs youngest-ever player and scorer when he was 16
- Yamal scored a semi-final goal against France in the 2024 Euros, helping Spain win the title
- The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain is scheduled for Monday morning (AEST)
- Lamine Yamal is 19 years old and has scored one goal in the 2026 World Cup (against Saudi Arabia in the group stage)
- Lionel Messi is 39 years old and is the World Cupâs greatest ever scorer with 21 goals, one ahead of Kylian Mbappe
- Messi scored eight goals in the 2026 World Cup, tying him for the tournamentâs highest scorer alongside Mbappe
- Yamalâs father, Mounir Nasraoui, posted the 2007 photo on Instagram in 2024 with the caption 'the beginning of two legends'
- Yamalâs three-year-old brother, Keyne, became an online star during the 2026 World Cup for cheering Spain from the stands
- Messi inspired Argentinaâs comeback from 0-1 down in the 2026 World Cup semi-final against England, with Lautaro Martinez scoring in the 92nd minute
- Spain defeated France 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup semi-final
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Sheila Ebana, Yamalâs mother, was 16 years old and from Equatorial Guinea when she met Messi in 2007
- Messi was described as having 'shoulder-length hair and a white hoodie' during the 2007 photo shoot
- The photo shoot was for a calendar, and Messi was 'coming out of the locker room' when he encountered Yamal
- Messi is now a father of three boys
- The photo shoot was described as a 'marketing ploy' by Barcelona Football Club to raise money for UNICEF
- Messi was 'gingerly holding' Yamal in a 'plastic tub full of water' during the photo shoot
- Yamalâs father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared the image two years ago during the European championships (2024 Euros)
- Messi was questioned about his ability to perform in the 2026 World Cup due to his 'ageing legs'
- The photo shoot was described as a 'promotional photo shoot' with a 'cherubic' Yamal
- Messi was 'not so awkward with a ball at his feet' despite his initial awkwardness with the baby
- The 2026 World Cup is being held in the US, Canada, and Mexico
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Messi was 20 years old in 2007, while SMH and THEAGE imply he was 20 in 2007 but do not explicitly state his age in 2007 (only that he was 39 in 2026)
- ABC mentions Yamalâs mother was 16, but SMH and THEAGE do not specify her age
- ABC describes Yamal as a '19-year-old Spanish wunderkind' in the 2026 World Cup, while SMH and THEAGE confirm he turned 19 in 2026 but do not use the term 'wunderkind'
- SMH and THEAGE mention Messi was 'then 20' in 2007, but ABC does not explicitly state this, only that he was 20-year-old in 2007
- ABC states Yamalâs father posted the photo in 2024, while SMH and THEAGE say he shared it 'two years ago' during the 2024 Euros, which aligns but is phrased differently
Source Articles
The story behind Messi's photo with a future Spanish superstar
On Monday morning, Argentinian legend Lionel Messi will go up against rising Spanish superstar Lamine Yamal in the World Cup final, 19 years after their famous photo shoot.
Lionel Messi gave a baby a bath in 2007. On Monday, they clash in the World Cup final
An incredible image has resurfaced of the Argentinian champion holding Spanish star Lamine Yamal when he was a five-month-old baby. This is how it happened.
Lionel Messi gave a baby a bath in 2007. On Monday, they clash in the World Cup final
An incredible image has resurfaced of the Argentinian champion holding Spanish star Lamine Yamal when he was a five-month-old baby. This is how it happened.