Messi bathed baby Lamine Yamal; stars now meet in World Cup final

A heartwarming photograph from 2007, showing a young Lionel Messi bathing a baby, has captured renewed attention ahead of the World Cup final. The baby in the image is Lamine Yamal, who will face Messi on the pitch as a star player for Spain.

“

Can genius be transferred through bathwater? Messi, usually celebrated as a magic foot, also seems to possess magical hands. At least, that's what many fans believe.

The image originated from a UNICEF charity project organized by a Spanish sports newspaper. Barcelona players were paired with children selected by lottery. Yamal's parents, from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea, won a chance for their then three-month-old son to be photographed with a player. Coincidentally, Messi was chosen for the task.

Initially, the photos were largely forgotten until Yamal's father shared them on Instagram in 2024. They gained viral traction during the recent European Championship, with fans interpreting the image as a symbolic 'blessing' of future talent from Messi to Yamal. This narrative has added a layer of mystique to the upcoming final.

“

Maybe it was Lamine who blessed Messi.

However, Yamal's father has playfully suggested an alternative perspective: perhaps his son blessed the young Messi. Regardless of interpretation, the reunion of these two players in a World Cup final, linked by such an unusual and poignant moment from their past, adds a unique narrative to the highly anticipated match.

“

Messi had to have had his fingers in the game.