Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal Bathtub Scene ‘Recreated’ in This AI-Generated Video
An AI-generated video claiming to show Lionel Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal has been debunked as fake, originating from the 'KickGPT' X account on July 10, 2024. This digital fabrication plays on a real 2007 charity photograph, which has resurfaced dramatically as Messi (39) and Yamal (19) prepare to face off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday.
A seemingly innocent yet highly deceptive AI-generated video, purportedly showing a Lionel Messi interacting with Lamine Yamal, who is bathing in a bathtub, has taken social media by storm, particularly as the two football titans prepare to face each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The video, which surfaced on Instagram around July 17, 2024, was traced to an account named 'ai_daniels', which is run by Andrii Daniels known for being a AI Director and film-maker. Lionel Messi Reacts To Viral 2007 Photo With Baby Lamine Yamal Ahead of Spain vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 Final.
Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal Bathtub Video Recreated
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This AI video plays on a real and incredibly coincidental piece of football history: an authentic photograph taken in late 2007 for a UNICEF charity calendar, featuring a then-20-year-old Messi with a baby Yamal, who was only a few months old.
The Viral Deception
The AI-generated video gained traction due to its convincing portrayal of the now-iconic scene, where Messi could be firstly making a tongue-in-cheek comment about Yamal being a grown, before handing over the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the Spain winger, which is revealed to be nothing but a toy as the camera pans to a smirking Argentina legend in its climax.
The Authentic Origin Story
The original, heartwarming photograph was taken in the autumn of 2007, specifically in December, inside the visitors' locker room at Barcelona's Camp Nou. It was part of an annual charity calendar initiative organized by the FC Barcelona Foundation and local newspaper Diario Sport, to raise funds for UNICEF.
Lamine Yamal's family, then residing in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataró, won a raffle organized by UNICEF, granting them the unique opportunity for their infant son to be photographed with a Barcelona player. By sheer chance, the emerging talent Lionel Messi was paired with baby Lamine and his mother, Sheila Ebana, for the photoshoot. Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the moment, recalled Messi being shy and somewhat unsure how to interact with the baby in the plastic tub, making the shoot a 'complicated' but ultimately memorable event. Spain Coach Luis De La Fuente Confirms Lamine Yamal Fit to Face Argentina in FIFA World Cup 2026 Final
A Prophetic Encounter Ahead of the World Cup Final
The resurfacing of both the genuine photo and the AI-generated video comes at a particularly poignant time, as Lionel Messi, now 39 years old, and Lamine Yamal, now 19, are set to face each other for the first time on the pitch in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The highly anticipated match between Argentina (led by Messi) and Spain (featuring Yamal) is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This remarkable full-circle narrative, spanning almost two decades, has captivated football fans worldwide, adding an extraordinary layer of destiny to the upcoming final.
While the AI video may be a modern digital illusion, the original photograph remains a powerful testament to an improbable twist of fate, now manifesting on football's biggest stage.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 18, 2026 12:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
