"It's crazy," says Messi about famous photo with baby Lamine Yamal

Lionel Messi has described the now-iconic photograph of himself holding a baby Lamine Yamal as "crazy", saying neither he nor anyone else could have imagined what the future would hold for the young footballer.

The image, taken in 2007 as part of a charity calendar organised by Barcelona, shows a 20-year-old Messi gently holding a six-month-old Yamal during a photoshoot at the Camp Nou. At the time, Messi was only beginning his journey to becoming one of football's greatest players, while Yamal was just a baby with no idea of the remarkable career that lay ahead.

Speaking about the photograph, Messi said it feels unbelievable that the child in his arms has grown into one of the brightest talents in world football. He described the image as "crazy" because no one could have predicted that Yamal would one day become one of Barcelona's biggest stars and represent Spain on the international stage.

Since breaking into Barcelona's first team, Lamine Yamal has established himself as one of the world's most exciting young players. His performances for both club and country have drawn comparisons with some of football's biggest names, while his technical ability, confidence and creativity have earned praise from fans and experts alike.

The photograph has become one of football's most shared images in recent years, symbolising one generation passing the torch to the next. Although it was taken purely by chance during a charity event, many supporters now see it as one of the sport's most remarkable coincidences.

As Messi's legendary career enters its final chapters, Yamal is widely expected to be one of the players who will shape football's future, making the famous image even more memorable.