Photographer Joan Monfort, based in Barcelona, has been a familiar presence at sporting events across Spain for over three decades. However, his international renown soared when a 2007 photo he captured recently resurfaced. During a photo session for UNICEF and Barcelona, Monfort photographed Lionel Messi, then 20 years old, holding a newborn. The Argentine soccer star was also pictured standing beside his mother next to a bathtub.
The photo captured a moment where future greatness met potential greatness. The newborn in question is Lamine Yamal, now a 17-year-old sensation from Barcelona and Spain, who celebrated his birthday on July 13. At Euro 2024, Yamal has stood out as a remarkable player. His remarkable goal against France in the semifinals has cemented his reputation as one of football’s most exciting talents.
“I’m just living in a dream,” Monfort told CNN, reflecting on the whirlwind of emotions he has experienced in recent days.
When Messi’s father posted a photo on Instagram showing the baby’s mother and the Argentine star smiling as they bathed the child with soap, the image quickly went viral and garnered global attention. The caption read, “The beginning of two legends.”
Then, in a surprising turn of events, Monfort received a phone call early in July.
“One colleague at the newspaper, SPORT, called me at 12 o’clock in the night and said to me: ‘Is this your picture?'” says Monfort. “And I answered: ‘Yes, this is my picture. I [took] this picture years ago.’ And I asked: ‘Who is the baby?’ And he [told] me the baby is Lionel Messi, of course. And the other baby is Lamine Yamal.”
Before receiving the call, Monfort admitted that he had forgotten about the photograph and did not know the identity of the infant pictured with Messi. He mentioned that the photo session was part of a fundraising and awareness campaign involving Barça and UNICEF. Monfort stated that Yamal’s family had won a raffle to participate in the photo.
Regarding Messi, Monfort described him as “extremely shy” yet “very professional” during the photo session with Yamal. He was unaware that he had photographed the future Spain international as a baby, and this realization did not come to him even when Yamal, at the age of 15, became Barcelona’s youngest player in over a century last year, or when he witnessed the teenager impressing in his early performances at Euro 2024.
Monfort learned about his previous encounter with Yamal only a few hours after the 16-year-old played a crucial role in Spain’s quarterfinal victory against host Germany. Speaking to CNN, Monfort told CNN he is “proud” of the photo, describing it as a “one in a billion” moment.
Both Messi and Yamal were alumni of Barcelona’s prestigious La Masia academy and made their debuts at a young age; however, Yamal made his debut on the international stage at 18 years old.
Messi holds the record as Barcelona’s top scorer with 672 goals. He has also played the most games, won the most trophies, and received the most Ballon d’Or awards in the club’s history.
