When a Baby Bath Photo Became a World Cup Final Story

The Photo That Started It All

Imagine a picture from 2007 showing a tiny baby taking a bath while a famous soccer superstar watches over him. That really happened!

• The baby was Lamine Yamal, who is now a star player for Spain.
• The superstar was Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina.
• The photo was taken at the FC Barcelona soccer stadium (their home field) for a charity calendar made by a local newspaper called Sport and an organization that helps kids called UNICEF.
• Yamal is now 19 years old and plays for Barcelona, the very same team connected to that photo shoot 16 years later!

Important Point: A charity calendar is like a book of monthly pictures that people buy to help raise money for good causes.

What Messi Said About the Photo

On Friday, Messi talked about that old picture and called it "incredible."

• "That photo is incredible," Messi said. "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."
• He was speaking at a fun fan event in New York called FIFA’s Fanatics Fest.
• Messi also praised Yamal: "He’s one of the best in the world right now."

From Bathtub to World Cup Final

The journey is now complete: from a baby in a bathtub to the biggest soccer match on Earth.

• Yamal (19 years old) and Messi (39 years old) will face each other in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday.
• This is the first time they will play against each other for their national teams.
• Messi said he wishes Yamal luck because his success helps Barcelona, but added: "we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best."
• He also said: "He’s a tremendous player … a global star. 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."
• Spain has a great team, not just Yamal, and Argentina has its own strong players too.

The Photographer’s Reaction

The person who took the famous photo is Joan Monfort.

• He said interest in his work has exploded all over the world.
• Because the final is being held in the U.S., even more people are talking about it.
• Monfort told the news agency AP: "And now this has culminated with the final between Messi and Yamal. It is better than any film script."

Others Were Shocked Too

Yamal’s Spain teammate Mikel Merino had the same surprised reaction many people had.

• "The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn’t even real," Merino said.
• AI (artificial intelligence) is when computers make fake but realistic-looking pictures or text.
• Merino said it’s unbelievable that two of the best players ever share that picture, and he hopes fans see a great final with both playing their best.

Messi’s Big Tournament Stats

Messi is having a great World Cup so far.

• He has scored 8 goals and made 4 assists (passes that lead directly to a goal).
• This is his third World Cup final (he reached it in 2014, 2022, and now 2026).
• He is tied with French star Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot, which goes to the top scorer of the tournament.
• Argentina is trying to win the World Cup two times in a row (back-to-back champions).

A Match That Didn’t Happen

Before the World Cup, Spain and Argentina were supposed to play a special match called the Finalissima.

• It was planned for March in Qatar.
• It was canceled because of a conflict in the Middle East.
• Instead, they meet now in the World Cup final!

Summary

A 2007 charity photo showed baby Lamine Yamal bathing while Lionel Messi looked on. Now, 19-year-old Yamal and 39-year-old Messi meet in the 2026 World Cup final. Messi called the photo incredible and praised Yamal as one of the world’s best, while saying Argentina will try to stop him from winning. The photographer and teammates are amazed by the real-life story, and Messi enters his third final with great stats as Argentina seeks back-to-back titles.

FAQ

Q: Who is in the famous 2007 photo?
A: Baby Lamine Yamal (now a Spanish soccer star) and Lionel Messi (Argentina’s captain) were pictured together during a charity calendar shoot at Barcelona’s stadium.

Q: Why is the photo so special now?
A: Because the two people in it are playing against each other in the 2026 World Cup final — something almost like a movie plot!

Q: What did Messi say about Yamal?
A: He said Yamal is one of the best players in the world, a tremendous global star, and that he wishes him well but will try to stop him from winning the final.

Q: Was the photo made by a computer (AI)?
A: No! It is a real photo taken by Joan Monfort. Yamal’s teammate Merino first thought it was AI because it seemed so unbelievable.