Lionel Messi reacted to the viral photo of bathing baby Lamine Yamal in 2007, calling it ‘insane’. Messi and Yamal will face off when Argentina defend their title against FIFA World Cup final against Spain. The photo was taken as part of a charity calendar at the FC Barcelona stadium by the local newspaper Sport and UNICEF. In the viral photo, the then-20-year-old Messi held a six-month-old Yamal in a plastic bathtub. The photo taken by freelancer Joan Monfort.
“That picture with Lamine, now we are facing in a final after a photo was taken of when he was a baby,” Messi told seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady in an interaction on Friday. “It’s just insane.”
“But he’s one of the best in the world right now,” Messi said of Yamal.
🚨🎙️ Lionel Messi on the famous photo with Lamine Yamal:“It’s crazy that we’re facing each other after that photo was taken when he was a baby.” pic.twitter.com/p6hHeE0CJj
— MC (@CrewsMat10) July 17, 2026
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Messi Lauds ‘Fantastic’ Yamal
Messi then went on to praise Yamal, saying that he has followed him closely because he plays for Barcelona. Messi added that Yamal has become a global icon at the age of just 19 and would be eyeing history on Sunday, adding that he’ll try to ensure that he has to wait a bit longer for his first World Cup.
“Lamine is a fantastic player, whom I followed closely because he plays for a club I love and always wish the best for. He’s a global icon at just 19 years old, with his whole career ahead of him. He has a great opportunity to achieve something historic, and we’ll try our best to make sure it’s not this time. I wish him all the best; honestly, that photo is crazy because it’s life,” Messi said.
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“I wish him the best of luck because what’s good for him is good for Barcelona too, and well, we’ll try to play a good game so he doesn’t have his best, although it’s difficult, we’ll try. He, like Spain, has some great players and a great style of play. We have our own strengths too,” he concluded.
Lamine Yamal wears the iconic No. 10 jersey for FC Barcelona, taking the famous number previously worn by Lionel Messi. He earned the jersey at Barcelona after a stellar 2024–25 season, where he scored 18 goals and 25 assists as Barcelona won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup and reached the Champions League semi-finals. Yamal has signed a long-term contract with the Club and will stay at Barcelona until 2031.
