Lionel Messi once bathed a baby Lamine Yamal for a photoshoot. Now they'll meet again in the World Cup final.
Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are set to face each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, nearly 19 years after a famous photoshoot where Messi bathed a baby Yamal. The viral images, initially suspected to be AI-generated, have been confirmed as authentic by the Associated Press.
Why it matters
The story highlights a unique intersection of sports history and viral media, capturing significant public interest in the 'passing of the torch' between two football icons.
Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain and Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina. (Photo, Michael Reaves/Getty Images) With Argentina's late 2-1 comeback win over England on Wednesday, Lionel Messi will now face Spain's Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old phenom widely touted as his heir apparent — or the closest thing to it — in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19.
The article focuses on sports trivia and human interest, maintaining a neutral tone.
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