Back in December 2007, a Barcelona newspaper organized a charity raffle to choose a local baby for a UNICEF calendar photo shoot.
The winning family brought their 5-month-old son.
The young Barcelona player chosen to hold and bathe the baby for the photos was 20-year-old Lionel Messi.
That baby was Lamine Yamal.
At the time, it was just a sweet photo. No one imagined it would become part of football history.
Fifteen years later, Yamal made his Barcelona debut at just 15. At 16, he helped Spain win the UEFA Euro while still balancing school. He later inherited Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt at Barcelona.
Now, on Sunday, the two will face each other in the FIFA World Cup final.
Messi, now 39, is likely playing in his last World Cup final.
Yamal, who turned 19 just two days ago, is playing in his first.
Years ago, Messi held a baby in his arms.
Today, that same boy stands on the opposite side, hoping to lift the World Cup trophy instead.
