The baby Messi held in an advert 19 years ago becomes his World Cup final opponent

The baby Lionel Messi once held during a charity photoshoot is now set to face him on football's biggest stage as Argentina take on Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The remarkable connection between Messi and Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal dates back to 2007, when a 20-year-old Messi took part in a Barcelona charity calendar photoshoot at Camp Nou.

Yamal, then just five months old, was selected with his family through a raffle held in Mataró's Roca Fonda neighbourhood.

During the shoot, photographer Joan Monfort captured the now-famous images of Messi holding and bathing baby Yamal, photos that have gone viral in recent years following the youngster's rise to football stardom.

Nineteen years later, the pair will meet again under very different circumstances, with Messi captaining Argentina and Yamal expected to lead Spain's attack in Sunday's World Cup final.