Lamine Yamal’s viral Messi photo: The untold story behind the 2007 shot

Photographer Joan Monfort captured a historic moment in 2007 when Lionel Messi posed with baby Lamine Yamal during a Barcelona charity calendar shoot.

What happened that night in 2007?

On a random evening in late 2007, Joan Monfort got a call about an urgent photo assignment. The Barcelona-based photographer was leading a charity calendar shoot featuring first-team players with children. The twist? One of the kids was an infant-later revealed to be Lamine Yamal, now Spain’s teenage sensation.

Monfort was mid-bath with his daughter when the call came in. The shoot was set for the next day, but the team hadn’t named the baby yet. When Messi was paired with the unnamed infant, Monfort had to improvise. He set up a bathtub prop in the studio, thinking it would add a playful touch. The result? A viral image that would resurface years later as Yamal’s career took off.

Why this photo matters for Lamine Yamal’s legacy

The 2007 snapshot is more than a cute throwback-it’s a glimpse into Yamal’s early ties to FC Barcelona’s first team. Messi, then 20, was already a global star, while Yamal was just months old. The photo’s rediscovery in 2024 sparked nostalgia, coinciding with Yamal’s meteoric rise under Xavi at Barça.

Monfort, now a veteran shooter, still remembers the shoot’s relaxed vibe. Messi, he said, was patient with the baby, even as the infant fussed. The image’s charm lies in its simplicity: no props, no staging-just two generations of Barça talent in one frame.

How the photo resurfaced years later

The image stayed buried in Monfort’s archives until a 2024 social media post reignited interest. Yamal, by then a Barça prodigy, had just debuted for Spain’s senior team at 16. Fans dug up the old photo, noting the eerie parallel between Messi’s 2007 pose and Yamal’s 2024 celebrations.

Monfort admits he never imagined the shot would gain traction. “I just thought, ‘This kid’s going to be someone someday,’” he told NBC Sports. The photo’s viral moment proved him right.

What’s next for Lamine Yamal-and the photo’s legacy?

Yamal’s career is skyrocketing. At 17, he’s already a Ballon d’Or nominee and Spain’s youngest-ever scorer. The 2007 photo serves as a quirky footnote, but it’s a reminder of Barça’s conveyor belt of talent.

Monfort keeps the original print in his studio. He jokes that if Yamal ever wins the Ballon d’Or, the photo’s value might spike. For now, it’s a charming relic-a link between two eras of Barça magic.

*Photographer Joan Monfort spoke to NBC Sports about the 2007 shoot.*