FIFA World Cup 2026: Lamine Yamal announced himself to the footballing world at UEFA Euro 2024 with a breathtaking performance in Spain’s 2-1 semifinal victory over France. Since then, the Barcelona teen sensation has seen an upward graph, becoming an important member both for Spain & Barcelona.
While Yamal’s rise has been fuelled by extraordinary talent, there is an interesting ‘Lionel Messi’ connection with him. When Lamine Yamal was still a baby, he was held by none other than Argentinian great Lionel Messi during a charity calendar shoot. The images have only added to the aura surrounding the teenager, whose meteoric rise has drawn comparisons with some of the game’s greatest talents.
The photos show Yamal as an infant being bathed by none other than Lionel Messi, who was 20 at the time and just beginning his own ascent to greatness. A crop of one of the photos was posted on Instagram by Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, along with the caption: “The beginning of two legends.”
Freelance photographer Joan Monfort captured the now-iconic photographs during a charity calendar shoot featuring Barcelona players with local children and their families. The initiative was organised by the Catalan newspaper Diario Sport in partnership with UNICEF.
Youre telling us this could be the World Cup final 😅
Nearly 20 years after Lamine Yamals family won a raffle to take part in a charity calendar photoshoot with Lionel Messi, the two of them could line-up against eachother in the biggest game in football 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SWqreID9MC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) July 15, 2026 ">
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