In 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi posed for a charity calendar photoshoot at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, unknowingly cradling a future football star. The baby in his arms was Lamine Yamal, now a 16-year-old sensation making headlines at the European Championships.
The recent discovery of this photo, shared by Yamal’s father on Instagram, has captivated the football world. The post, captioned “The beginning of two legends,” has brought a heartwarming narrative full circle. Yamal’s stunning goal against France in the semi-final, making him the youngest scorer in the tournament’s history at 16 years and 362 days, solidified his rising star status.
The photographer behind this memorable shot, Joan Monfort, recounted the challenging yet memorable experience. The photoshoot, arranged by UNICEF after a raffle in Mataró where Yamal’s family lived, saw the young Messi interact with the baby in an unfamiliar setting. Monfort described Messi as shy and initially unsure of how to handle the baby in a plastic tub full of water.
Yamal, like Messi, has gone on to play for Barcelona. He became the club’s youngest ever starter and goalscorer, and the youngest scorer in the Spanish league. Monfort, who only recently realized the baby’s identity as Yamal when the photo went viral, expressed his excitement at being connected to such an inspiring story.
“It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation,” Monfort said. “To tell you the truth it’s a very nice feeling.”
