Almost two decades after a charity photo shoot brought them together, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are set to meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, turning one of football’s most unlikely photographs into reality.Back then, photographer Joan Monfort did not think much of the images he captured. They showed a 20-year-old Messi helping bathe an infant Yamal in a small plastic tub during a charity calendar shoot. Nearly 20 years later, the two will face each other when defending champions Argentina take on European champions Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.The photograph has gone viral ahead of the final, with many calling it one of football’s most remarkable coincidences.“I have never been a believer or thought that anything was destined to occur, but I am beginning to have my doubts. This is beyond all reasonable explanations,” Monfort told The Associated Press from his home in Barcelona on Friday.Messi admitted he is equally surprised by how events have unfolded.“That picture with Lamine, now we are facing in a final after a photo was taken of when he was a baby,” Messi told seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest on Friday. “It’s just insane.”The photo was taken by freelance photographer Joan Monfort during the promotional charity shoot when Messi was 20 years old and Yamal was still an infant. Now, the two will be on opposite sides in the biggest match in world football.Messi also spoke about his admiration for Yamal, who now plays for FC Barcelona, the same club where the Argentine spent more than two decades between 2000 and 2021.“Lamine is truly amazing,” Messi said. “I’ve followed him a lot because he plays for a club I love so much. He has a chance to achieve something historic — we’re going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.”History is at stake for both players in Sunday’s final.Messi could become the first player to captain a team to back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles. Yamal, meanwhile, could become the second-youngest player to start and win a World Cup final.For both, the only obstacle is the player standing on the other side.“We’ll try to put on a good match, but I hope he and his team don’t put on a good one,” Messi said.Argentina booked their place in the final after beating England in the semi-finals, while Spain defeated France to set up the title clash on Sunday.
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