Messi and Yamal: A Chance Meeting That Sparked a Future Rivalry
Charity Photo Shoot from 2007
Twenty years ago, a UNICEF charity event in Barcelona offered a unique prize: a photo session with a then‑young Lionel Messi, who was 20 at the time. Yamal’s family seized the opportunity, and the resulting pictures captured a toddler in Messi’s arms, a moment that would later become a nostalgic footnote in football history.
Messi’s Recent Praise
Speaking ahead of the World Cup final, Messi described Lamine Yamal as “one of the best players in the world right now,” noting the teenager’s age and promising future. He recalled the “crazy” picture of Yamal as a baby and expressed his best wishes for the young star’s continued success.
The 2024 European Championships Reveal
Photographer Joan Monfort, who had worked for nearly two decades as an etcher and a player before turning to photography, admitted he had forgotten about the original shoot until Yamal’s father shared a photo on social media during the 2024 European Championships, when the young forward began to showcase his elite talent for Spain.
Almost Crossing Paths Again
Years later, the two were poised to meet again in Barcelona, but fate stayed away. Messi departed Barcelona in August 2021 amid financial constraints that prevented the club from meeting his wage demands, eventually joining Paris Saint‑Germain and later Inter Miami. Meanwhile, Yamal made his senior debut for Barcelona in April 2023, marking his entry into the first team.
World Cup Showdown
In a dramatic turn, Yamal and Spain faced Messi’s Argentina in the World Cup final, edging out a 1‑0 victory in extra time. Argentina had sought consecutive titles after winning in Qatar 2022, while Spain claimed their first World Cup crown since 2010, echoing Iniesta’s historic goal in the 116th minute against the Netherlands.
