The photo that’s been around the world has finally been commented on by one of the protagonists.
A whole 19 years ago Lamine Yamal‘s family won a competition to take part in a collaboration between UNICEF and Barcelona.
The campaign was to promote families at risk of social exclusion, and Messi was pictured bathing the eight-month-old Lamine with his mother.
Now the two will meet as rivals for the first time in the World Cup final.
Messi comments on the legendary photo
Discussing the image for the first time, Messi said: “Honestly, this photo of the two of us is incredible.
“I took a picture with him when he was just a baby, and here we are today, facing each other in the World Cup final.”
He added: “At 19, he’s already among the best players in world football.
“He’s an immense talent, someone I’ve followed closely because he plays for a club I love, and I always wish him the best.
“He has his whole career ahead of him and a fantastic opportunity to achieve something historic.
“We’re going to try to play a great match and prevent him from reaching his best, even though it will be very difficult.”
Lamine had already commented on the shot and comparisons to Messi, saying: “Nobody minds being compared to the best player in history. But it’s something that holds you back because you’ll never be like him.”
Lamine and Messi photographer remembers the moment
Speaking at the start of the World Cup, the photographer, Joan Monfort, spoke to SER radio.
“It’s an almost inexplicable story,” he said.
“If you try to piece it together or imagine it, you’d never write a script like this: it’s somewhere between science fiction, magic, a fairy tale…
“It has every adjective you could want to describe it. It’s very difficult to explain, almost like an astral alignment.”
Speaking about the idea for the photo, he added that he came up with it while bathing his own daughter.
“I was mulling over the photograph and realised I had her right there in front of me,” he said.
“It’s a way for them to interact and connect more quickly. You have a limited time to do these things, so I grabbed the baby’s bathtub, some towels, soap, a rubber ducky, and it seemed like an idea that could work.”
Lamine later inherited Messi’s No.10 shirt at Barcelona, and although he admits his idol is Neymar, he has no doubts about the greatest player of all time.
“When you realise that an athlete is a legend not only in their sport, but in all others, you understand what they represent,” he said of the reigning world champion.
“Messi is the greatest footballer in history, in my opinion. If he isn’t the greatest athlete of all time, he’s among the best. He’s an idol. I hope to have a similar career to his.”
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