From Baby to Euro 2024 Golden Boy: The Untold Story of Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi
Lamine Yamal has become Euro 2024’s golden boy, dazzling fans with his spectacular goal for Spain in their 2-1 semifinal victory over France. At just 16, Yamal made history as the youngest goal scorer in the Euros, surpassing the previous record by more than a year.
Yamal’s rise to fame was recently highlighted by a set of resurfaced photos showing him as a baby being bathed by a young Lionel Messi. Taken by freelance photographer Joan Monfort for a charity calendar organized by Diario Sport and UNICEF, the photos capture a tender moment between the future football stars.
In 2007, Yamal’s family won a raffle to have their picture taken with a Barça player, leading to the memorable photoshoot with Messi in the Camp Nou locker room. Despite initial awkwardness, the encounter marked the start of a legendary connection.
Photographer Monfort, now 56, reflects on the enduring impact of his work: “It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation.”
As Yamal continues to shine and Messi leads Argentina in the Copa América, their story remains a testament to the magic of football.
