World Cup destiny: Messi bathed Yamal as a baby, now they face off for soccer’s top title

A now-iconic photograph taken by AP photographer Joan Monfort captured a teenage Lionel Messi bathing a baby boy — who turned out to be Lamine Yamal — in a plastic bathtub nearly two decades ago. The two players, connected by that chance moment, are now set to face each other in a major soccer championship, with Messi representing Argentina and Yamal representing Spain. The story highlights the remarkable coincidence as both players compete for soccer's top title at the World Cup.