A Chance Meeting in 2007

As Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal prepare to square off at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the 2026 World Cup title, the sporting world reflects on their unique history. Their first meeting occurred under circumstances vastly different from the high-stakes pressure of a global final.

In late 2007, the paths of the future superstars crossed during a charity calendar photo shoot organized by the FC Barcelona Foundation and the Spanish publication Diario Sport. At the time, Messi was a 20-year-old rising talent, while Yamal was a mere five-month-old infant.


The Story Behind the Viral Photograph

The opportunity for the photo arose after the Yamal family won a raffle organized in partnership with UNICEF. Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the historic moment, recalled that the session took place in a locker room at Camp Nou, featuring a simple plastic bathtub.

According to Monfort, a young and naturally reserved Messi was initially uncertain about how to handle the situation:

«He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn't even know how to hold him at first.»

These images remained largely obscure until two years ago, when Yamal's father shared them on social media with the caption, «the beginning of two legends.»


From La Masia to the World Stage

While Messi had already secured two league titles and a Champions League trophy by 2007, Yamal was only just beginning his life. Seven years after that photo was taken, Yamal began his formal development at Barcelona’s prestigious La Masia academy.

The progression of the young star has been meteoric:

  • April 2023: At age 15, Yamal made his debut for Barcelona, eventually taking on the iconic No. 10 jersey.
  • September 2023: He received his first call-up to the Spanish national team.
  • Summer 2024: Yamal played a pivotal role in Spain's successful Euro 2024 campaign.

A Historic Rivalry

Reflecting on the unlikely trajectory of both players, Monfort noted the role of destiny, stating: «Back then, nobody could imagine that this baby would be who he is now — and you could not have known that Messi would become who he became, either.» Now, the pair prepares to face one another in the pinnacle of international football, decades after their first encounter in a plastic tub.