“M aybe Lionel Messi has picked up lots of babies, maybe it’s chance, but for those of us who have faith, who believe in something beyond, ‘chance’ is God’s pseudonym when he doesn’t want to sign his name,” reflects Luis de la Fuente. “In life, everything happens for a reason. Sometimes it’s true that the circle isn’t closed, but in my view there’s something else, something … I don’t know, mystical, spiritual.”
As you contemplate the moment captured in this World Cup image, you might find yourself resonating with Spain’s coach, feeling drawn to the idea of destiny. How else could one rationalize such an extraordinary event? This striking photograph, which has enchanted many, is likely to be revisited, yet its true meaning continues to elude us.
Joan Monfort, the artist behind the lens, admits he was once doubtful about fate, but his views have evolved. The photo features Messi, often hailed as the greatest footballer in history, gently holding a baby beaming with joy. The child, selected randomly and surrounded by bubbles, is Lamine Yamal, a player whom De la Fuente describes as “the beginning of two legends” and who was baptized by him.
On Sunday, they will face each other as opponents in the World Cup final.
This iconic image was taken around Christmas 2007. A sports magazine was crafting a charity calendar to support Barcelona and Unicef, setting up a makeshift studio in the away dressing room at Camp Nou. Each player was assigned a month, posing with a child; Ronaldinho was featured for July while Messi appeared in January. At that time, Lamine Yamal was merely four months old, with his mother, Sheila, entering him into a draw for this opportunity. Monfort conceived the idea the night before while bathing his daughter, bringing along a plastic tub and a rubber duck. Despite the baby’s diminutive size and Messi’s initial shyness, with Sheila’s help, Monfort captured a photo he felt proud of.
However, the image soon faded from memory. Monfort tucked it away, just another snapshot among countless others, oblivious to the significance it would eventually hold. The photograph remained forgotten until it resurfaced during Euro 2024 when Lamine Yamal’s father, Mounir, shared it on social media, captioning it “What if it’s not actually Lamine?”
What transpired over the years? How did that randomly selected infant grow into Lamine Yamal? How did Messi, a shy 19-year-old, evolve into the global icon he is today? Among billions, how did their paths intertwine? Why had this connection gone unnoticed until now? What motivated Mounir to share it at this moment? How was Lamine Yamal unaware of it? When Monfort later met him, Lamine Yamal confessed he had no recollection of the event. Understandably so; he was merely four months old.
“God willing, I can face him in the final.” Monfort worried at the time, finding himself in a perplexing situation. His concerns were valid; the concept felt too surreal. However, Mounir’s timing was impeccable. Just four days later, Lamine Yamal scored a crucial goal against France, propelling Spain into the Euro 2024 final and marking his arrival on the international stage. Monfort likened this moment to creation, although Mounir jokingly remarked that perhaps it was Lamine who breathed life into Messi.
Unicef also confirmed the authenticity of this moment. It was July 2026, and even then, they felt it necessary to validate it. Following Argentina’s victory over England, the situation became even more surreal: this photograph symbolized the poster stars of the world’s largest sporting event, leading to Monfort’s phone ringing off the hook.
Recently, Lamine Yamal was shown the photograph. “I’ve grown a little bit … and so has Leo,” he stated. While this seemed unlikely, if fate had guided them thus far, why stop now? So much has transpired; some events were perhaps meant to be avoided: Spain and Argentina were initially scheduled to meet in the Finalissima in March. It’s far more thrilling that they encounter each other here instead. Lamine Yamal smiled as he examined the photo. “Pressure? No, Lamine Yamal said before the semi-final, inviting the world to his 19th birthday, enjoying the spotlight. Earlier this season he had celebrated his goals by performing his own coronation and if he has stopped now, if there have been moments when he has revealed the weight of responsibility, if he has mentioned his “internal abyss” he reflected.
Both have matured in the public eye, facing immense expectations. The next time Lamine Yamal stood beside Messi was at Barcelona’s training facility. He was still quite young, merely 11 or 12; by then, Messi had fully embraced his stardom. Though this was a fan event featuring the world’s best player, Lamine Yamal had evolved from being just a fortunate child to someone recognized for his talent. Discovered while playing for CF La Torreta in Mataró, he eventually joined La Masia. He recalls first tasting fame at age 13 while playing in the park, already known as that kid from Barcelona.
Messi understands this journey intimately, and their bond runs deeper than mere coincidence. Arriving in Catalonia from Argentina at 12, he famously signed a contract on a napkin at the Pompeia tennis club. Lamine Yamal’s family background is diverse; his father is from Morocco while his mother is from Equatorial Guinea. Although he was born in Catalonia and proudly represents Rocafonda’s 08304 postcode when he scores, he grew up in a neighborhood where half the residents live in poverty, and around 20% are Moroccan. There, he played in the gravel plaza of Joan XXIII. While he could have chosen to represent Morocco, he confidently opted for Spain. Messi faced a similar choice but ultimately committed to Argentina, clinging to a homeland that took time to accept him but now cherishes him wholeheartedly.
“I would like to be everything that everyone wants me to be,” Lamine Yamal has declared. Observing him talk about Messi, one may notice a hint of shyness; his responses often feel somewhat rehearsed, almost formulaic. When he does express his thoughts, it’s evident he holds profound respect and admiration for the Argentine, recognizing him as the greatest footballer. However, this admiration lacks the fervor he displays for Neymar. This could be a strategic choice, particularly since they share sponsorships; competing with Messi appears futile. Yet, there’s a simpler truth: Neymar was his idol, a player with whom he strongly identifies.
In Lamine Yamal’s demeanor, upbringing, and even elements of his game, traces of Neymar emerge more prominently than those of Messi: the joy, the flair, the playful mischief, and the sparkle in his eye. “Thing is, people want you to score 100 goals at 16. I would like to as well.” he expresses. At just seven years old, he first witnessed Neymar play at Camp Nou; while Messi was also present, Neymar’s unique charm captivated him. That was the football that resonated with him, a player embodying the perfect equilibrium between street style and formal training. Neymar was the player Lamine Yamal idolized through videos, the one he sought to emulate, and the one he visited last summer in Brazil.
And Messi, he is constantly compared against.
No pressure, kid. “I want to follow my own path, that’s all; I have no intention of playing like him or anything like it. There is mutual respect; we both know I don’t want to be Messi,” Lamine Yamal said prior to the semi-final, inviting the world to his impending 19th birthday and savoring the attention. Earlier this season, he celebrated his goals with a self-styled coronation ceremony. Although he has faced the weight of responsibility and acknowledged moments of struggle, he has embraced this challenge, confronting it head-on. “I knew that [comparison] question was coming” reads his headband. Ultimately, he has risen to meet it.
“I didn’t like comparing Messi to Maradona, but Messi didn’t make it easy; I don’t like comparing Lamine to Messi but Lamine doesn’t make it easy either,” he remarked in the spring. “There are geniuses, those who are touched by God’s wand and there are few of those: Lamine or Messi.” He has already netted over 50 goals. He is Barcelona’s youngest debutant and their youngest goalscorer, a record previously held by Messi. “The only place where three men can’t mark you is in the middle and I will end up there: they can’t defend me there,” he shared with CBS, anticipating the inevitable comparison: “There is a new generation of players that’s very good and has many years ahead,” – yet, there are certainly echoes of Messi in his game.
If there’s a signature Lamine Yamal goal, it closely resembles one that Messi once scored. “If I had to choose one, it would be Lamine. Without doubt, he’s the best.” noted Jorge Valdano, a former Argentina international. Xavi Hernández, who provided Lamine Yamal his Barcelona debut, also hesitated to make comparisons but found it difficult to avoid. De la Fuente remarked: “If we meet on the pitch there will be mutual respect because for me he is the best in history.” Remarkably, Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal at 18, wearing the number 19 jersey. Two decades earlier, Messi achieved the same milestone: the same age, the same number.
There is also growth on the horizon. In a captivating recent interview with El País, Lamine Yamal pointed out that Messi, like him, is often marked by three defenders, and he anticipates following the Argentine to a different position on the field. “The only place where three men can’t mark you is in the middle, and I will end up there: they can’t defend me there,” he explained.
Messi will turn 40 in June 2027, and Lamine Yamal asserted he would not be playing at that age. That future remains distant, and it’s uncertain what he will think then. The past has unfolded rapidly, even faster than Messi’s rise. One can’t help but dream about where this journey will lead him and them, pondering whether this new era will belong to him. Once, Spaniards speculated on what might have occurred had Messi chosen Spain, imagining having the world’s finest player; now, they wonder if they might actually have him anyway. They may need to wait respectfully until Messi retires. Until that time, Messi has demonstrated throughout this tournament that no one compares to him.
Lamine Yamal, compared by De la Fuente to Michelangelo or Salvador Dalí, has participated in 151 matches for Barcelona, claiming three league titles. At his age, Messi, who also defied expectations, had appeared in just 34 matches, scoring nine goals. Lamine Yamal celebrated winning a European Championship with his national team, achieved just a day after turning 17, while Messi took until the age of 34 to secure an international trophy with Argentina. However, Messi has continued to excel since then. The 2022 World Cup was anticipated to be his last, a man driven by purpose, crafting an extraordinary narrative. Yet here he is again, the story expanding: this marks his third World Cup final, and he seeks a fourth consecutive international trophy at an age when he could have retired long ago.
And standing before him is Lamine Yamal, already a victor at the onset of his career: a potential passing of the torch that Messi may defer, if only for a day. “There is a new generation of players that’s very good and has many years ahead,” Messi remarked. “If I had to choose one, it would be Lamine. Without a doubt, he’s the best.” Lamine Yamal responded: “If we meet on the pitch, there will be mutual respect because for me, he is the best in history.” On Sunday, for the first and likely the last time, in the most international city of all, they will meet. In the World. Cup. Final. Where does one even begin to unravel the symbolism? How can one find an explanation for the improbable?
Spain versus Argentina. European champions versus South American champions. Lionel Messi versus Lamine Yamal. The 19-year-old making his World Cup debut, the same age Messi was during their first encounter, against the 39-year-old in his sixth and likely final tournament. The young player, poised to define the future, against the man who has already shaped a generation, now a father, yet still a formidable presence. The boy handed Messi’s No 10 jersey, just as Messi was once given Maradona’s, the child cradled almost 20 years ago, now a recognized icon, the infant in the bath.
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