For greater than 30 years, the Barcelona-based photographer Joan Monfort has been a fixture at athletic occasions all through Spain.
Lionel Messi, who was 20 on the time, was photographed by Joan Monfort cradling a new child throughout a UNICEF and Barcelona photograph shoot. The Argentine soccer participant additionally posed with the toddler within the bathtub along with his mom.
A 20-year-old Lionel Messi holding child Lamine Yamal throughout a UNICEF charity calendar photoshoot at FC Barcelona in 2007. pic.twitter.com/a5ZQhXZYZ6
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) May 26, 2025
It turned out that greatness was awaiting greatness. The toddler in query is Lamine Yamal, a teenage sensation from Barcelona and Spain who turned 17 on July 13.
Yamal had been the standout participant at Euro 2024, and his unimaginable purpose in opposition to France within the semifinal solidified his standing as probably the most thrilling participant on this planet of soccer. He has since gone onto win the La Liga with Barcelona though he misplaced out on the UEFA Nations League after dropping the Spain vs Barcelona during which he was pocketed by Nuno Mendes earlier than finally getting substituted.
“I’m simply dwelling in a dream,” Monfort advised media because the photographer mirrored on the rollercoaster of feelings he’s skilled.
20 12 months previous Lionel Messi holding child Lamine Yamal (2007)
In September 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi participated in a charity calendar photoshoot organized by FC Barcelona, the newspaper Dario Sport, and Unicef.
Throughout this occasion, Messi was photographed holding and bathing… pic.twitter.com/URa5vXrMOm
— Commuter (@commuterny) May 11, 2025
When Yamal’s father uploaded {a photograph} of the child’s mom and the Argentine grinning on the child in a soapy tub to his Instagram account with the caption, “The start of two legends,” the pictures of Messi cradling Yamal captured the eye of your entire globe.
In September 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi participated in a charity calendar photoshoot organized by FC Barcelona, the newspaper Dario Sport, and Unicef and through this occasion, Messi was photographed holding and bathing six month previous Lamine Yamal within the guests’ locker room at Camp Nou.
The photograph was revealed in a 2008 charity calendar organised by Barcelona’s membership basis and Catalan newspaper Diario Sport, with the cash raised going to charitable organisations together with UNICEF and completely different NGOs round Catalonia.
Joan Monfort was a struggling freelance photographer. In 2008 the Sport newspaper commissioned him just a few photographs for what would grow to be a Christmas calendar.
He solid Messi and a black child known as Lamine for an image.
He can now retire from the royalties this image will get him. https://t.co/QuCBDEtbZ7 pic.twitter.com/Hlu11pad5M
— Nacho Oliveras (@NachoOliveras) July 11, 2024
A whole bunch of households collaborated with the initiative for a lot of years and a lot of the images have now been forgotten, outdoors of the households of the kids who’ve treasured personal reminiscences.
Then, to start with of July, Monfort unexpectedly acquired a name. Previous to the decision, Monfort acknowledges that he had forgotten in regards to the image and was unaware of the id of the toddler who had been shot with Messi. He clarifies that the photograph shoot was a part of a UNICEF and Barça fundraising and consciousness marketing campaign.
Yearly, the membership and UNICEF oversaw the trouble, making a calendar that includes the workforce’s high gamers from varied ethnic backgrounds.
Who’s Joan Monfort?
Joan Monfort is an expert photographer with quite a lot of expertise. He acquired his coaching in Barcelona on the Gris Artwork college. With a deal with photojournalism, he labored with Mundo Deportivo from 1990 to 1994.
After that, he spent two years working as a movie digital camera assistant, nonetheless photographer, promoting photographer, and architectural photographer. He joined the simply launched newspaper ECO in 1996. Joan started working with the publication SPORT in December 1997, and he joined their crew of photographers in 2001.
He was awarded the Sports activities Journalism of Catalonia award in 2006 for his visible journalism work on integration and solidarity with the Futbol Membership Barcelona gamers. He has contributed to a number of collaborative books and exhibitions. The Related Press (AP), SEAT, Banco de Santander, and Again to Eco are his main purchasers as a freelancer.
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