Nearly two decades ago, Lionel Messi helped bathe a five-month-old baby during a charity calendar photo shoot in Barcelona, Spain.
On Sunday (19/7), the baby will face him in the World Cup final.
Argentina captain Messi recalled his unusual first meeting with Spanish striker Lamine Yamal, recalling the viral 2007 photo ahead of their first meeting on the football pitch.
"Honestly, our photo is extraordinary, because, well, that's life, right? I was in that photo with him when he was a baby, and now we are both here, playing in the World Cup final," Messi told media crews in New York
Messi (39), was 20 and just starting his Barcelona career when the photo was taken. Yamal (19), has since emerged as one of the club's brightest young stars.
"Lamine is a great talent, someone I follow a lot because he plays for the club I love, and I always wish him the best, I always want the best for him," Messi said.
"He's already a top player at 19, and he still has a long way to go. He has a great chance to achieve something historic, and we'll do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen this time. I just want to wish him the best," Messi added.
His admiration for Yamal goes beyond Sunday's match.
"It's crazy. He's one of the best players in the world right now, without a doubt. And I wish him a lot of luck, because whatever is good for him is also good for Barcelona," Messi said.
The photo resurfaced in 2024, when Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared it publicly during that year's European Championship, where Spain went on to defeat England in the final.
