A photograph taken nearly two decades ago, featuring a young Lionel Messi bathing an infant Lamine Yamal, has gained significant attention ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final. The image, initially part of a charity calendar, now symbolises an unexpected encounter between two players set to compete for the sport’s highest honour. The final will see Messi’s Argentina face Yamal’s Spain.
Joan Monfort, the freelance photojournalist who captured the moment in 2007, described his initial lack of awareness regarding the photo’s future significance. He noted that the image, which depicts Messi with soap suds on his hands, has become a widely discussed topic in the lead-up to the final. Monfort, who works for a news agency, expressed his astonishment at the turn of events, stating that the situation extends beyond reasonable explanation.
The Genesis of an Iconic Image
The photograph originated from a charity calendar project in 2007, a collaboration between a local newspaper and UNICEF. Yamal’s mother participated in the project after winning a raffle for families in Mataró, near Barcelona. This chance pairing led to the infant Yamal being photographed with Messi, who would later achieve global recognition as one of football’s greatest players.
Monfort had not recalled the specific photos until Yamal’s father shared one on social media during the 2024 European Championship. At that time, Yamal was experiencing an international breakthrough, leading Spain to the title. The image subsequently went viral, and its popularity has surged further with the impending World Cup final.
Messi, reflecting on the photograph, acknowledged its unexpected nature. He stated, “That picture, it was crazy. Him as a baby, and now we are facing each other. What a crazy picture. I just wish him the best of luck.” Messi also wished Yamal well for his future career.
Spain teammate Mikel Merino also reacted to the photograph, initially believing it to be an AI-generated image due to its improbable nature. Merino expressed his hope for a competitive final featuring both players.
La Masia’s Enduring Legacy
Both Messi and Yamal are products of La Masia, Barcelona‘s renowned youth academy. La Masia, which translates to “The Farmhouse,” initially housed young players between 1979 and 2011 in an old Catalan farmhouse built in 1702. The academy is credited with developing a distinct footballing philosophy.
In 2010, La Masia became the first youth academy to have trained all three players who occupied the Ballon d’Or podium: Messi, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta. That same year, Spain’s sole World Cup victory featured seven Barcelona players in the starting lineup for the final, with six of them being La Masia graduates.
The original farmhouse ceased to house players in 2011, moving to a new facility. However, La Masia continued to represent Barcelona’s identity and its tradition of identifying, educating, and promoting technically gifted footballers. Yamal’s emergence is seen as a return to La Masia’s principles, particularly after Barcelona faced financial difficulties. Currently, nine academy graduates are part of the two World Cup final squads, with eight representing Spain and Messi playing for Argentina.
The core idea behind La Masia’s training is rooted in Total Football, a concept introduced to Barcelona by Rinus Michels and later championed by Johan Cruyff. This philosophy emphasizes players interchanging positions while maintaining team structure, requiring each player to understand multiple roles. Cruyff, who returned as manager in 1988, led his “Dream Team” to four consecutive league titles and Barcelona’s first European Cup in 1992. His philosophy prioritised technical intelligence over physical attributes, leading the academy to select players based on their understanding of specific functions.
Among those who emerged from this system was Pep Guardiola, who later became a manager and further developed these ideas. Louis van Gaal, another influential figure, also contributed to the academy’s coaching methods, producing what one publication called the “greatest coaching seminar ever.” Attendees included Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Phillip Cocu, Frank de Boer, Xavi, and Carles Puyol. Xavi, upon returning as Barcelona manager, promoted Yamal to the first team.
La Masia’s influence extended globally, forming the backbone of Barcelona’s first team during a decade of dominance after 2008 and providing the core of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad. Its diaspora of players, coaches, and executives, with Guardiola being a notable example, spread its footballing principles worldwide. The academy’s impact was particularly evident between 2008 and 2012, when Guardiola promoted players like Sergio Busquets and Pedro, brought Gerard Piqué back, and positioned Xavi and Iniesta in central midfield. In 2000, Van Gaal’s vision of winning the Champions League with 11 homegrown players was met with skepticism, but less than a decade later, Barcelona, with six La Masia graduates in their starting XI, defeated Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Monfort, a lifelong Barcelona supporter, finds himself in a dilemma regarding the upcoming final, with his loyalty split between Messi and Yamal. He stated, “My heart is split. I don’t know if I want Messi or Yamal to win.” He has an enduring admiration for Messi, whom he considers the best player of all time, but also acknowledges Yamal’s impact and representation of a new, diverse Spain due to his parents’ origins from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. Monfort is considering travelling to New Jersey to watch the final on Sunday.
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Source: apnews.com
