By Rajwa Quasim
The viral photo of football stars Lionel Messi holding an infant Lamine Yamal has turned out to be real as UNICEF confirmed it in a statement days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The photo was shared by Yamal’s father in 2024.
Many fans questioned the authenticity of the photo or if it was an AI-generated gimmick. UNICEF confirmed the image as real, sharing that the photo was taken in 2007, when Messi, then 20, took part in a charity calendar with Barcelona and the Catalan newspaper Diari Sport.
Yamal’s family entered a raffle; the six-month-old infant was randomly selected to take part in the photoshoot. They matched the team players with local babies to raise funds for children’s causes. Nobody at the time would have ever envisioned that 20 years later, both would be part of the Barcelona team as well as face each other in the heated 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
READ: Messi, Mbappé headline Golden Boot race at 2026 FIFA World Cup (July 14, 2026)
“The photographer, Joan Monfort, has said that Lamine Yamal stole Messi’s heart because he was always smiling,” said UNICEF Catalan’s Laia Ruich.
The photo was captured by photographer Joan Monfort, he described it as a “true miracle of destiny.” Messi reacted on the picture, saying it was “crazy” and that the Spain winger is “one of the best in the world” and that Yamal is “rising up.”
Messi and Yamal faced each other for the first time at senior international level on July 19, representing Argentina and Spain respectively, as Spain secured the 2026 FIFA World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over the former champions.
Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 fever sparks global brand rush (June 7, 2026)
Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared the photo in 2024 with the caption, “The beginning of two legends.” The post was instantly shared by fans, who were amazed to see the baby in Messi’s arms had become Barcelona’s newest superstar.
Messi became the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2010. This year, Yamal joined him as UNICEF’s newest Goodwill Ambassador, using his platform to advocate for every child’s right to play.
“Playing football gave me structure, a sense of belonging, and hope for the future. I know how important it is for children to have a safe place to play, so that they can simply enjoy being children, discovering the world, imagining and growing,” Yamal said in June.