Lionel Messi bathing young Lamine Yamal in 2018. Credit: UNICEF/
The United Nations Children’s Fund has confirmed that the widely circulated photographs showing football icon Lionel Messi bathing Spain youngster Lamine Yamal as a baby are authentic, ending days of speculation that the images had been digitally altered.
UNICEF made the clarification in a post shared on its official X handle on Thursday after several social media users questioned the authenticity of the viral photographs, with some claiming they had been doctored.
According to the organisation, the images were taken more than 18 years ago during a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot involving Messi, Yamal and the youngster’s mother, Sheila.
“Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real,” UNICEF wrote.
