Argentina captain Lionel Messi called the viral Lamine Yamal baby photo “crazy” on July 17, two days before the pair meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Messi made the comments during an exchange with retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest in New York City. Fox Sports published the interview at 8:40 pm ET on July 17.
The 39-year-old praised Yamal as a leading player and said the Spanish winger had an opportunity to achieve something historic, although Argentina would try to prevent that in Sunday’s final.
'Looking at that photo is crazy…'
Messi reflects on photo with BABY Lamine Yamal, whom he is facing in the World Cup final match
'That's life, right?' pic.twitter.com/Vs0ljD7dgn
— RT (@RT_com) July 18, 2026Photographer Joan Monfort captured the image in 2007 during a charity calendar shoot benefiting the United Nations Children’s Fund. The photograph shows the then-20-year-old Messi helping bathe an infant Yamal inside Camp Nou’s away dressing room.
Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared an image from the shoot on Instagram in July 2024 with the caption, “The beginning of two legends.”
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The Argentina and Spain national teams will contest the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 pm ET, or midnight PKT on July 20
