By now, almost every soccer fan has seen the iconic photo of Lionel Messi holding a baby Lamine Yamal.
What was once just another charity photoshoot has since become one of the most famous images in soccer, especially after Yamal emerged as one of the sport's brightest young stars.
With the two now set to face each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, the picture has once again taken over social media, with many calling it one of the greatest full-circle moments in soccer history.
The photo was taken in 2008 as part of a charity calendar organized by UNICEF and the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport. Yamal's family won a local raffle in Mataró that gave them the chance to have their son photographed with a Barcelona player. By pure coincidence, they were paired with a 20-year-old Lionel Messi.
Photographer Joan Monfort later recalled that Messi was incredibly shy during the shoot. To help break the ice, he used a plastic tub filled with water and a rubber duck while Yamal's mother assisted throughout the session.
The image first went viral in July 2024 after Yamal's father shared it on Instagram with the caption, "The beginning of two legends."
Now, with Messi and Yamal preparing to meet on the biggest stage in soccer, interest in the photo has surged once again. Naturally, many fans have been left wondering whether the two stars are actually related or if there is another connection between them.
What's the Relation Between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal?
Messi was recently asked about the famous photo, and the Inter Miami star admitted that even he is amazed by how things turned out.
"To be honest, that photo is just crazy because, well, that's life, isn't it? I had my photo taken with him when he was a baby, and here we are today, the two of us going up against each other in a World Cup. It really is crazy.”
Although Messi and Yamal are not related by blood, their careers are linked by a remarkable series of coincidences.
Reuters - Brett Davis
Years after that memorable photoshoot, Yamal joined Barcelona's famous La Masia academy—the very same youth system where Messi developed into one of the greatest players in soccer history.
Like Messi, Yamal rose through the ranks before making his breakthrough with Barcelona's first team. He also plays on the right wing, the position Messi made his own for nearly two decades, and has inherited the club's iconic No. 10 jersey.
While the two share no family ties, their careers have become closely intertwined, making that 2008 photograph feel even more extraordinary today.
