BARCELONA, Spain: Seventeen years ago, freelance photographer Joan Monfort captured a young Lionel Messi holding a baby for a charity calendar, unknowingly predicting the future stardom of both the football icon and the infant.
That baby, now 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, is making headlines as a rising star in football, drawing comparisons to legendary players.
Yamal, who recently made history as the youngest player to represent Spain, is now the youngest participant in the current European Championship held in Germany. The photo from 2007, once forgotten, resurfaced when Yamal’s father posted it on Instagram, captioning it “the beginning of two legends.”
Monfort, a seasoned photographer for The Associated Press, recalled the photo shoot taking place in Barcelona’s Camp Nou visitors’ locker room. The 2007 charity calendar, organized by local newspaper Diario Sport and UNICEF, featured Barcelona players posing with children. Yamal’s family won a raffle, allowing them to be photographed with Messi. Monfort recounted the shoot’s challenges, as Messi, introverted and shy, was unsure how to interact with baby Lamine, who was in a plastic tub for the shoot.
At the time, Messi was a 20-year-old emerging talent, yet to cement his status as one of the greatest players of his generation. Like Messi, Yamal progressed through Barcelona’s renowned La Masia youth academy. Despite his youth, Yamal has been a standout performer for Spain at Euro 2024, with the team set to face France in the semifinals.
Monfort only realized the baby’s identity when a friend informed him as the photos began trending online. Throughout his career, following Barcelona globally since 1991, Monfort had never experienced such excitement surrounding his work.
Reflecting on the photo’s impact, Monfort expressed his delight in being connected to the sensational story of Yamal’s rise. “It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation,” he said. “To tell you the truth, it’s a very nice feeling.”
Yamal will turn 17 on Saturday, just a day before the Euro 2024 final in Berlin, marking a milestone in what promises to be a remarkable football career.
