Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal: A viral photo from 2007 connects football generations

The picture was originally taken for a charity calendar by Spanish sports daily Sport, in collaboration with the FC Barcelona Foundation and UNICEF. Parents of Lamine Yamal, now a star for the Spanish national team, entered their son into a drawing to participate, leading to his pairing with Messi for the photoshoot in the Camp Nou visitor's locker room. At the time, Messi was 20 years old and had not yet won a Ballon d'Or or a World Cup.

The photographer, Joan Monfort, used a plastic duck to help relax the atmosphere, resulting in the now-iconic smiling image. The photo, which accompanied the 2008 charity calendar, gained renewed attention when Lamine Yamal's father posted it on social media during Euro 2024, where his 16-year-old son was a breakout star. The coincidence fascinated internet users, who widely shared the image.

Nearly two decades later, parallels between the two players are noted, including their origins in La Masia, FC Barcelona's training academy, their left-footed play on the right wing, and both having worn the club's number 10 jersey. Additionally, both Messi and Yamal scored their first World Cup goals at age 18. Messi scored for Argentina in 2006 against Serbia and Montenegro, while Yamal scored for Spain against Saudi Arabia in 2026.