The viral photograph of a 19-year-old Lionel Messi bathing a three-month-old Lamine Yamal has been confirmed authentic, tracing back to a 2007 UNICEF charity shoot, nearly two decades before the pair face off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
The viral photograph of Lionel Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal has sparked widespread debate online, with many dismissing it as AI-generated or digitally manipulated — but PUNCH Online reported Saturday that the image is authentic, tracing its origins to a 2007 charity photo shoot.
The shoot was organised by Barcelona’s foundation and Catalan newspaper SPORT for a charity calendar raising funds for UNICEF. It shows a 19-year-old Messi bathing three-month-old Yamal, who was born on Friday, July 13, 2007.
Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the image, said its significance has only grown with time. “It was no coincidence, it was a miracle,” he told FIFA.
According to FIFA, Yamal’s family had participated in a UNICEF community project and won a raffle for their newborn son to appear in a photo with a Barcelona first-team player, with the draw pairing them with Messi over other stars like Ronaldinho and Andrés Iniesta.
Oriol Canals, then in the newspaper’s marketing department, recalled Messi’s discomfort holding a baby for the first time, describing him as “stiff as a broom,” while Monfort noted Messi’s shy, terrified demeanour at just 19.
The photograph remained largely forgotten until 2024, when Yamal’s father shared it on social media days before Spain’s EURO 2024 win, sending it viral and reconnecting Monfort and Canals with the story.
Monfort said the moment now carries added weight as Messi, 39, and Yamal, 19, prepare to face off in Sunday’s World Cup final, calling it “the cherry on top” of an extraordinary story.
UNICEF also confirmed the photo’s authenticity, revealing that Yamal became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador last month, joining Messi, who has held the role since 2010.
ESPN separately reported that Messi described facing Yamal in the final as “crazy,” given their shared history.
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