‘Life works in strange ways’: Lionel Messi on viral photo with Lamine Yamal ahead of Spain vs Argentina World Cup final
Tom Brady interviewed Messi about a viral photo with Lamine Yamal, taken when Yamal was a baby. Messi praised the 19-year-old, highlighting their upcoming World Cup final.
Sports journalist Tom Brady asked Lionel Messi about a photo that has gone viral during the FIFA World Cup 2026. It shows Messi and Lamine Yamal together when the Spanish footballer was a baby.
Both now face each other in the World Cup final. The baby whom Leo faced 19 years ago will be his rival at the New York New Jersey Stadium tomorrow.
Messi said he had followed Yamal closely due to Barcelona connections. He always wants the best for his beloved former club.
Quick answers to key questions
The viral photo captures a moment from 2007 when Messi, then 20, helped bathe 5-month-old Yamal during a UNICEF event. It highlights the coincidental reunion as they face each other in the World Cup final 19 years later.
Messi was 20 years old when the photo was taken in 2007, and he is currently 39. Yamal, now 19, will be playing against Messi on July 19, making the connection between them notable and coincidental.
Messi praised Yamal as one of the world's top players at just 19, expressing that he has a great opportunity to achieve historic success in football.
Messi indicated that his well-wishes for Yamal are tied to his love for Barcelona, as Yamal's success would also benefit the club Messi is deeply connected to.
Lamine Yamal became UNICEF's newest Goodwill Ambassador this year, advocating for children's rights, following Messi, who has supported UNICEF since 2004 and became a Goodwill Ambassador in 2010.
“That photo is just unbelievable because, well, life works in strange ways. I took a picture with him when he was a baby, and now we’re both about to face each other in a World Cup. It’s crazy, really. As I said, it’s unbelievable,” Messi said.
Messi praised Yamal as already one of the world's top players. At just 19, Yamal has his entire career ahead. He has a genuine chance to achieve something historic.
“He has a great opportunity to achieve something historic. We’ll, however, do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen this time,” Messi said.
The GOAT called the shared photo simply “unbelievable”. Messi wished Lamine Yamal continued success beyond this specific match.
“He has a great opportunity to achieve something historic. We’ll, however, do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen this time,” Messi said about Yamal.
“Right now, he’s undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. I wish him tremendous success because what’s good for him is also good for Barcelona,” Messi added.
Social media reacted to Messi’s comments ahead of the Spain vs Argentina final.
“As a Barcelona fan, this is a win-win situation for me,” wrote one fan.
Many others acknowledged the “crazy coincidence”.
One fan wrote, “That’s the real GOAT talking. Can’t understand, but I’ll just listen.”
“He said he wished Lamine the best because his well-being will also be FC Barcelona’s well-being.. this man loves Barca wholeheartedly,” came from another fan.
Messi and Yamal: Viral Photograph
In 2007, Lionel Messi was already one of football's brightest young stars. Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, was just a 5-month-old baby. The pair posed together for an FC Barcelona and UNICEF photo shoot.
Messi helped bathe baby Yamal in a small blue tub. A photographer noted that Yamal had stolen Messi's heart through constant smiling. Yamal's family had won a raffle for this photo opportunity. The image appeared on the January 2008 page of the calendar.
Messi has supported UNICEF since 2004and became a Goodwill Ambassador in 2010. He travelled to Haiti following its devastating earthquake that year. He's spent over a decade advocating for children's rights globally.
This year, Yamal joined him as UNICEF's newest Goodwill Ambassador. Yamal now advocates for every child's right to play freely.
About the Author
Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.
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