Nearly two decades later, a charity photoshoot brought them together, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, bringing one of the most incredible photos in football to life.At the time, photographer Joan Monfort didn’t put much thought into the photos he took. They showed Messi, 20, helping baby Yamal bathe in a small plastic tub during a charity calendar shoot. Nearly 20 years later, the two will face off again on Sunday when defending champions Argentina take on European champions Spain in the World Cup final at New York’s New Jersey Stadium.The photo went viral ahead of the final, with many calling it one of the most remarkable coincidences in football.“I never believed anything was destined to happen, but I started to have doubts. It was beyond all reasonable explanation,” Monfort told The Associated Press at his home in Barcelona on Friday.Messi admitted he was equally surprised by the turn of events.“That picture with Lamin, now we’re facing a picture of him as a baby in the finals,” Messi told seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady at FanFest on Friday. “It’s crazy.”The photo was taken by freelance photographer Joan Monfort as part of a charity campaign shot when Messi was 20 and Yamal was a baby. Now, the pair will face off in world football’s biggest competition.Messi also spoke of his admiration for Yamal, who now plays for FC Barcelona, a club where the Argentine spent more than two decades between 2000 and 2021.“Lamine is really good,” Messi said. “I follow him a lot because he plays for a club that I love very much. He has a chance to achieve something historic – and we will do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen this time. “Both players’ histories are on the line in Sunday’s final.Messi could become first player to captain back-to-back teams fifa world cup title. Yamal, meanwhile, could become the second-youngest player to start a World Cup final and win the title.For both, the only obstacle is the player on the other side.“We will try to have a good game, but I hope he and his team don’t have a good game,” Messi said.Argentina reached the final after beating England in the semi-finals, while Spain beat France to prepare for Sunday’s title clash.
