The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that the viral photos of Lionel Messi bathing and caring for a baby Lamine Yamal were taken during a UNICEF fundraising campaign in Barcelona more than 18 years ago.
The iconic images, which have circulated on social media for years, first gained widespread attention during the 2024 European Championship, when Yamal helped Spain lift the title.
Ahead of Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defending champions Argentina and Spain at the MetLife Stadium, UNICEF revisited the photos, confirming they were taken in 2007 when Messi was 20 years old and had recently become a regular starter for Barcelona, while Yamal was just five months old.
“Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real. More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mum, Sheila, met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot,” the organisation said.
UNICEF added that both Messi and Yamal have gone on to inspire millions on the pitch and now serve as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, using their voices and platforms to advocate for children’s rights and well-being around the world.
According to the organisation, Yamal’s parents won a newspaper raffle that earned their son a place in the fundraising campaign.
The two football stars are now set to meet for the first time in their careers when Argentina face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, adding fresh significance to the remarkable story behind the famous photographs.
