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| 20-year-old Lionel Messi bathing a 5 months old Lamine Yamal for a UNICEF campaign in 2007 |
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says the old photos of Lionel Messi bathing and caring for a baby Lamine Yamal were taken during its fundraising photoshoot in Barcelona.
Over the past few years, the inspirational, almost mythical,
set of pictures of Messi cradling baby Yamal has been circulating on social
media.
The photos first went viral during the 2024 European
Championships, which Yamal won with the Spanish national team.
Both Yamal and Messi will face each other for the first time
in their respective careers in the final of the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina will be defending their world title against Spain
at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday at 8 pm Nigerian time.
In anticipation of the upcoming match, UNICEF revisited old
photos of Yamal and Messi, noting that they were taken “more than 18 years
ago”.
“Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real. More than 18 years
ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF
fundraising photoshoot,” the organisation writes.
“Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions.
Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices and platforms as
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors to support and advocate for children around the
world. The goal? That every child survives, thrives, and fulfils their
potential. We are proud to have them on our team.”
The pictures were taken in 2007 at Camp Nou when Messi was
only 20 years old and had recently become a regular starter for Barcelona, and
Yamal was only five months old.
Yamal’s parents had won a newspaper raffle to have their son
feature in the campaign.
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