The Heartwarming Story of Lionel Messi and the Baby Who Became a Football Sensation
In 2007, a young Lionel Messi took part in a charity calendar photoshoot at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. Little did the photographer know that one of the babies he posed with would go on to make waves in international football less than 17 years later.
That baby was Lamine Yamal, who at 16 years old, is currently taking the European Championships by storm. His goal against France in the semi-final on Tuesday not only helped his team but also made him the youngest man to score in the tournament’s history.
The long-forgotten photo of Messi and Yamal resurfaced recently after Yamal’s father posted it on Instagram with the caption: “The beginning of two legends.” The photos were taken by Joan Monfort, a freelance photographer for the Associated Press.
According to Monfort, the photoshoot came about after Unicef organized a raffle in the town of Mataró where Lamine’s family lived. They won the raffle, which allowed them to have their picture taken with a Barça player at the Camp Nou.
Describing the experience, Monfort mentioned that Messi, known for his introverted nature, was initially unsure how to handle the baby during the shoot. However, both Messi and Yamal went on to achieve great success in football.
Yamal played for Barcelona, becoming the club’s youngest ever starter and goalscorer, as well as the youngest scorer in the Spanish league. Monfort expressed his excitement at being associated with the viral photo and the success of both Messi and Yamal.
The heartwarming story of Messi and the baby who became a football sensation serves as a reminder of the unexpected paths life can take and the impact of small moments captured in time.
