BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥� Almost two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn’t think much of his photo shoot of a teenage in a plastic bathtub. Not until the remarkable twist of fate became clear years later, when that infant blossomed into
Now those images of the longhaired Messi, his hands covered in soap suds as if anointing Yamal as soccer’s Next Big Thing, have become the most talked about 鈥� and gawked about 鈥� in the runup to Sunday鈥檚 final, when will play for the biggest trophy in the sport.
鈥淚 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,鈥� Monfort told The Associated Press from his home in Barcelona on Friday.
Monfort, who works as a freelance photojournalist for the AP, took the photos in 2007 as part of a charity calendar produced by local newspaper Sport and UNICEF.
Luck dictated that Yamal鈥檚 mother, who appears in the calendar photo, won a raffle of families in the city of Matar贸, near Barcelona, who wanted to participate. Soccer destiny then deemed that her baby boy, who would become some 15 years later, was paired up with the Argentine who would become one of the greatest of all time.
A tearful Messi in 2021 when the club was in financial trouble. Yamal two years later. The journey is now complete, from bathtub to World Cup final, where the 19-year-old Yamal will face a Messi who is 20 years his senior.
The famous photo was forgotten until …
Monfort had no recollection of the photos until Yamal鈥檚 father posted one on social media during the 2024 European Championship, when a teenage Yamal was enjoying his international breakout and .
The photo went viral then. But now, with the looming, Monfort said, interest in his photos has skyrocketed.
鈥淭his has exploded all over the world, and the fact that the final is in the U.S. has given it the extra push,鈥� Monfort said. 鈥淎nd now this has culminated with the final between Messi and Yamal. It is better than any film script.鈥�
Monfort said he has been bombarded by queries for the photos by professional media outlets, while also seeing his images reproduced countless times on social media and the internet without any credit or compensation.
Yamal’s Spain teammate Mikel Merino had the same reaction as most people who see the photos.
鈥淭he first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn鈥檛 even real,鈥� Merino said Friday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable that two of the best players to have played the game 鈥� and hopefully Lamine, in the future, will be one of those 鈥� share a picture like that. Hopefully we鈥檙e going to see a very bright final with those two protagonists at their best, playing and giving all the fans a great spectacle.鈥�
Barcelona fans are torn by love of both Messi and Yamal
Like many Barcelona fans, Monfort’s loyalty is split. It is common to see children wearing both Yamal鈥檚 Barcelona and Spain shirts, as well as any Messi shirt, whether from his Barcelona years or Argentina or his current club, Inter Miami, on the city鈥檚 streets.
Monfort, 58, is considering traveling to see the final in New Jersey, but whether he watches it in person or at home, he said he will have trouble cheering for one team or the other.
鈥淢y heart is split. I don鈥檛 know if I want Messi or Yamal to win,鈥� said Monfort, a lifelong Barcelona supporter.
鈥淚 have an everlasting love for the best player of all time (Messi),鈥� he said, but 鈥淵amal has broken the mould here鈥� and , thanks to his parents from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. 鈥淢aybe they can both win. I wouldn’t rule it out after everything we have seen.鈥�
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