In 2007, a young Lionel Messi posed for photos with a baby in the dressing room of the Camp Nou in Barcelona for a charity calendar photoshoot.
Messi, who was 20, was already making a name for himself and would go on to become arguably the greatest of all time.
But little did the photographer know that the baby would also make waves in international football less than 17 years later.
Messi was bathing Lamine Yamal - the 16-year-old who is taking the European Championships by storm.
His goal against France in the semi-final on Tuesday is one that will be talked about for decades.
At 16 years and 362 days, the strike also made him the youngest man to score in the tournament's history.
![](https://www.myjoyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/image-452-1024x682.png)
The long-forgotten photo of Messi and Yamal resurfaced after Yamal’s father posted it on Instagram last week with the text: “The beginning of two legends.”
The photos were taken by Joan Monfort, who works as a freelance photographer for the Associated Press.
The shoot came about after Unicef did a raffle in the town of Mataró where Lamine’s family lived, he said.
"They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barça player. And they won the raffle," Mr Monfort told the Associated Press.
The assignment wasn't a straightforward one, the photographer said.
“Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy,” he said.
“He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.”
![Joan Monfort/AP Lamine Yamal as a baby with Lionel Messi in 2007](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/625a/live/a66ae640-3e89-11ef-96a8-e710c6bfc866.png.webp)
Like Messi, Yamal went on to play for Barcelona, where he became the club's youngest ever starter and goalscorer, as well as the youngest scorer in the Spanish league.
Mr Monfort said it was only when the photo started going viral online last week that he realised that the baby was Yamal.
“It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation,” he said.
“To tell you the truth it’s a very nice feeling.”
Latest Stories
-
35th CIMG Awards: Full list of winners
52 mins -
The Multimedia Group wins big at CIMG Awards 2023
2 hours -
Bernard Mornah wins PNC flagbearship race
2 hours -
Video: Confusion at PNC National Executives election
3 hours -
Rapper E.L. joins King Promise as Guinness Accravaganza headliner for September 21 showdown
4 hours -
PNC Congress: Bernard Mornah leads in Greater Accra Region
4 hours -
Reject violence, divisive rhetoric, embrace peace ahead of elections – Bawumia appeals to Ghanaians
4 hours -
SEFF’s debut single ‘Father’ sets stage for bold new talent
5 hours -
Super typhoon Yagi kills four in Vietnam
6 hours -
Hollard Insurance-UENR Mentoring Day: Students urged to let hard work, integrity shine to advance career
6 hours -
2024/25 GPL: Vision FC opens campaign with draw against Berekum Chelsea
6 hours -
If Baba Yara pitch was good, Mumin clears the ball – Laryea Kingston
6 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Samartex begin title defence with draw against Dreams FC
7 hours -
Financing road construction and maintenance through a special fuel levy: A sustainable solution for Ghana’s road infrastructure
7 hours -
Ghana Celebrity Impact Awards 2024 launched to honor positive social influence
7 hours