The baby in the photo – which has now gone viral – was none other than Lamine Yamal, the Spanish wunderkind who at 16 was showing such promise that he was already being compared to the greats of the sport.

Rodri wants Spain to be bold and brave against Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium as La Roja bid to add a second star to their crest

Spain and Argentina are set for a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 final showdown. Lionel Messi’s Argentina will face Lamine Yamal’s Spain in a battle between experience and youth, with both teams chasing football’s biggest prize.

The North and Central American World Cup final is drawing intense attention for the potential showdown between Argentina's Messi and Spain's rising star Yamal.

THE World Cup is set to reach its climax after over a month of brilliant football – and there’s still plenty to be excited about. Spain and Argentina face off in a mouthwatering clash

Almost two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn't think much of his photo shoot of a teenage Lionel Messi bathing a cute baby boy in a plastic bathtub. Not until the remarkable twist of fate became clear years later,

The Messi and Yamal photo from 2007 has taken over social media as both players gear up to represent their respective countries in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final

Messi and Yamal may currently be standing on opposite ends of the pitch ahead of the FIFA finals. But the respect they have for each other represents an undeniable dynamic.