Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are about to face off for the 2026 World Cup title this Sunday at MetLife Stadium. That's a showdown with literally everything on the line, but get this, it's not the first time these two soccer giants have "met." The first encounter was wildly different, and only one of them has any memory of it!
That Bathtub Photo Nobody Knew Was History
Rewind to December 2007. A 20-year-old Messi was introduced to a five-month-old Yamal during a charity calendar photo shoot. Barcelona's foundation and the Spanish sports newspaper Diario Sport put the whole thing together, an annual tradition where players got photographed with kids. Freelance photographer Joan Monfort spilled the beans in 2024, saying the Yamals won a raffle, run with UNICEF, for their son to get a picture with a Barcelona player. Who would have guessed the history being made? Little Baby Yamal, chilling with his mom in the visiting locker room at Camp Nou, sat in a plastic bathtub filled with soapy water. He had no clue what was going on. Messi, known for being a bit introverted, wasn't sure how to handle the infant. Monfort recalled, "He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn't even know how to hold him at first." Those photos popped up online again two years ago when Yamal's dad posted them on Instagram, captioning it, "the beginning of two legends." Monfort told The Athletic in 2024 that it's "something incredible." He added, "Back then, nobody could imagine that this baby would be who he is now, and you could not have known that Messi would become who he became, either. We are talking about 2007. Messi was only beginning at Barca then. Destiny plays an important role in these things."From Bathtub To Barcelona Legend
Even in 2007, Messi was already a force, several years into his pro career with two league titles and the Champions League under his belt. Fast forward seven years, and Yamal started his own journey, joining Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy. By April 2023, a 15-year-old Yamal made his Barcelona debut, rocking that legendary No. 10 jersey, the same one Messi wore. Just five months after that, he got the call-up to Spain's national team. The following summer, he was a key part of La Roja's win at Euro 2024. Now, just two years after dominating the Euros, Yamal could double down and hoist the World Cup trophy. And who's standing in his way? The very man he first met splashing around in a tub. This Sunday at MetLife, it's not just a final, it's destiny playing out on the biggest stage. Who knew a tiny tub could connect two legends like this?This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.