The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has confirmed that the viral photographs showing Lionel Messi bathing an infant Lamine Yamal are genuine, reviving one of football’s most remarkable stories as the pair is preparing to meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
The images, which have resurfaced across social media ahead of Sunday’s final, capture a young Messi gently bathing baby Yamal in a small plastic tub during a UNICEF charity calendar photoshoot organised to raise funds for vulnerable children.
The organisation dismissed claims that the photographs had been digitally manipulated, insisting they are authentic.
“Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real,” UNICEF said in a statement shared on its official X account.
According to the agency, the photographs were taken more than 18 years ago during a fundraising campaign that brought together Messi, then an emerging Barcelona star, with baby Lamine Yamal and his mother, Sheila.
The iconic images were captured by Spanish photographer Joan Monfort as part of UNICEF’s efforts to raise awareness and support for children’s welfare.
Yamal’s journey since then has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Insightlinks gathered that Yamal was Born in Spain to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, he grew up in a family whose roots reflect the sacrifices of migration. His father left Morocco in search of a better life in Spain, where the family eventually settled and where the young footballer developed into one of the brightest talents of his generation.
Today, the once unknown baby in Messi’s arms has become Spain’s biggest star and will line up against the Argentine legend in the biggest match in world football.
UNICEF also highlighted another unique bond shared by the two footballers. Beyond the famous photographs, both Messi and Yamal now serve as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, using their global influence to advocate for children’s rights and improved opportunities for young people around the world.
“The goal is that every child survives, thrives and fulfils their potential. We are proud to have them on our team,” the organisation said.
The photographs have generated widespread reactions online, with many fans describing them as a symbolic passing of the torch from one football icon to another.
What began as a charity initiative organised by UNICEF has become one of football’s most memorable images, especially as fate prepares Messi and Yamal to face each other on the world stage.
With Argentina chasing a second consecutive World Cup title and Spain aiming to reclaim football’s biggest prize, Sunday’s final promises to be more than just a clash between two nations, it will also be the latest chapter in a story that began with a UNICEF campaign nearly two decades ago.