Baptism of Yamal by 'Saint' Messi: The photo that became WC final's origin story
A viral 2007 photograph of Lionel Messi bathing a young Lamine Yamal has become a symbolic origin story for the modern football era. The image resurfaced during Euro 2024, highlighting the serendipitous connection between two generations of football icons.
Why it matters
The story illustrates how digital media and viral photography create modern myths and narratives around sports figures, bridging generational gaps in global pop culture.
Comic-book readers are familiar with the concept of origin stories. Iron Man wouldn’t have become Iron Man if he hadn’t been kidnapped in Afghanistan. Peter Parker might have become a wrestler if he hadn’t lost Uncle Ben. Superman might have become a Nietzschean, god-killing Übermensch if he hadn’t been raised by the Kents in Kansas. And yet, all of those origin stories pale in comparison with the real one behind Sunday’s World Cup final, which began in the away dressing room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou.The Baptism of Christ, painted by Italian master Andrea del Verrocchio and his young apprentice Leonardo da Vinci, is considered a benchmark in its genre. Its footballing equivalent is a picture by Joan Monfort that could be titled The Baptism of Baby Yamal by Saint Messi.
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