Ahead of the 2026 World Cup final on US soil, Barcelona brought one of football's most iconic photos back into the spotlight. The club shared the 2008 image featuring Argentine star Lionel Messi and Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal on its official channels.
The photo was taken for a charity calendar prepared by the Barcelona Foundation for the benefit of UNICEF. The report noted that a then 20-year-old Messi was seen holding a few-month-old baby Lamine Yamal. Barcelona said, 'This captivating image now remains a historic moment.'
The 2008 edition of the calendar series, printed in collaboration with Sport newspaper since 2004, focused on global child support programs. Barcelona players of that era, including Deco, Bojan Krkić, Rafael Márquez and Xavi Hernández, also took part in the shoot.
In its statement, the club said, 'Messi's path first crossed with Lamine Yamal, then just a baby, here. That day, no one could have imagined that this baby, if he fulfilled his early talent, could follow in the Argentine star's footsteps.'
Barcelona stressed that Yamal's performance at age 16 was unique and that even Messi had not achieved such success at the same age. 'This photo will be remembered as one of the most iconic images in football history,' it was said.
The 2026 World Cup final will be played on Sunday in New Jersey, USA. Argentina aims to defend the title it won in Qatar in 2022, while Spain wants to take the trophy home for the first time since 2010.
Maria Nica / Editor
