{"id":39609,"date":"2026-07-17T14:15:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T14:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/17\/world-cup-fate-messi-gave-yamal-a-bath-as-a-baby-now-they-face-off-for-soccers-top-title\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T14:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T14:15:26","slug":"world-cup-fate-messi-gave-yamal-a-bath-as-a-baby-now-they-face-off-for-soccers-top-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/17\/world-cup-fate-messi-gave-yamal-a-bath-as-a-baby-now-they-face-off-for-soccers-top-title\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup fate: Messi gave Yamal a bath as a baby, now they face off for soccer’s top title"},"content":{"rendered":"


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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) \u2014 Almost 20 years ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn’t think much about photographing her teenage self. Lionel Messi bathes a cute boy<\/span> inside a plastic bathtub. Years later, in a surprising twist of fate, when the baby grew up… Lamine Yamal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, as if to anoint Yamal as the next big thing in football, a photo of a long-haired Messi with his hands smeared with soap suds is the most talked about and attention-grabbing photo ahead of Sunday’s match. world cup<\/span> final, when Messi’s Argentina<\/span> play Yamal’s Spain<\/span> Aiming for the biggest trophy in the sports world.<\/p>\n

“I have never believed or thought that something is destined to happen, but I am beginning to have doubts. There is no rational explanation for this,” Monfort told The Associated Press from his home in Barcelona on Friday.<\/p>\n

Monfort, who works as a freelance photojournalist for the Associated Press, took the photo in 2007 as part of a charity calendar produced by local newspaper Sport and UNICEF.<\/p>\n

Yamal’s mother, who is pictured in the calendar, was among the lucky winners in a lottery for families interested in participating in the city of Mataro, near Barcelona. At that time, her baby was met with a soccer fate. star of barcelona<\/span> About 15 years later, he was paired with the Argentine who would later become the greatest of all time.<\/p>\n

Messi in tears left barcelona<\/span> In 2021, the club was in financial trouble. Yamal exploded in the club<\/span> 2 years later. The journey from the bathtub to the World Cup final is now complete and Yamal, 19, will face Messi, 20 years his senior.<\/p>\n

This famous photo was forgotten until Yamal defected to Spain.<\/h2>\n

Montfort had no recollection of the photo until Yamal’s father posted it on social media during the 2024 European Championships. At the time, Yamal was a teenager and was enjoying his international career. led Spain to the title<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The photo went viral at the time. But now world cup finals<\/span> Montfort says that crisis is looming, and interest in his photography is surging.<\/p>\n

“This is exploding all over the world, and the fact that the finals are in the United States gives it even more momentum,” Monfort said. “And now this culminates in the final between Messi and Yamal. This is better than any movie script.”<\/p>\n

Monfort said she has seen her photos reprinted countless times on social media and the internet without any credit or compensation, while she has been inundated with inquiries from professional news organizations for her photos.<\/p>\n

Barcelona fans are heartbroken over their love for both Messi and Yamal<\/h2>\n

Like many Barcelona fans, Monfort’s loyalties are divided. On the streets of the city, you can often see children wearing both Yamal’s Barcelona and Spain shirts, as well as Messi’s shirts from his time at Barcelona, \u200b\u200bArgentina or his current club, Inter Miami.<\/p>\n

Monfort, 58, is considering traveling to watch the finals in New Jersey, but said it would be difficult to root for either team, whether in person or at home.<\/p>\n

Monfort, a lifelong Barcelona supporter, said: “My heart is divided. I don’t know whether I want Messi or Yamal to win.”<\/p>\n

“I have an eternal love for the greatest player of all time (Messi),” he said, but “Yamal broke the mold here.” Representing a new and diverse Spain<\/span>thanks to my parents, who are from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. “Maybe both of them can win. Considering what we’ve seen so far, we can’t rule out that possibility.”<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


\n
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