From the bathtub... a picture of Messi and Yamal shakes the World Cup

All eyes of football fans are on the 2026 World Cup final, which will pit Argentina against Spain in a match imbued with special significance as it pits the legendary Lionel Messi against the rising star Lamine Yamal. Argentina secured their place in the final after a thrilling comeback against England, overturning a one-goal deficit to win 2-1 in the semi-final, setting up a clash with Spain, who defeated France 2-0. The highly anticipated match carries a rare human story between Messi and Yamal, as an old photograph has resurfaced showing the Argentine star holding the Spanish player when the latter was a baby, years before he became one of the world's most prominent footballers. The photo dates back to 2007 during a charity event organized by FC Barcelona for children, where Messi, then at the beginning of his career, is seen holding the infant Lamine Yamal in a moment that has become one of the most widely circulated images before the World Cup final. Yamal's father confirmed the authenticity of the photo on his social media account, captioning it "The Beginning of Two Legends," referring to the extraordinary path that brought together the player who would become a global icon and the rising star who carried Spain's hopes. Spanish photographer Joan Monfort revealed that Messi wasn't used to interacting with children at the time, before Yamal's mother helped the Argentinian player during the photoshoot. More than 18 years later, the roles have reversed. Yamal is now Messi's rival in the biggest football match in the world, as the young Spanish star seeks to lead his national team to victory, while Messi aims to retain the trophy and add another achievement to his illustrious career.