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World Cup reunion: From bath time to final showdown
15 Jul
Summary
- Lamine Yamal might face Lionel Messi in the World Cup final.
- They first met in a 2007 UNICEF charity photoshoot.
- Messi was 20 and Yamal was a six-month-old baby then.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is poised for a remarkable full-circle moment. Spain's 19-year-old sensation, Lamine Yamal, is heading to the final at the New York New Jersey stadium on Sunday. Argentina's legend, Lionel Messi, will face England in the semi-finals on July 15, with the winner advancing to play against Spain.
If Argentina triumphs, Yamal and Messi could meet in a surreal encounter, recalling a unique 2007 UNICEF charity photoshoot. Messi, then 20, was pictured giving a bubble bath to a six-month-old Yamal. This heartwarming throwback has resurfaced as the young Yamal might now compete against the football icon.
Yamal, who celebrated his 19th birthday on July 13, expressed his excitement at the prospect of facing Messi. This World Cup marks Messi's final tournament before retirement. Yamal's jersey honors his family's benefactors, and he also pays tribute to his postcode with a hand signal when scoring.
