Tunnel #44 — Messi, Yamal, Destiny
And Erling Haaland holding a taxidermy raccoony
“Sometimes it seems like destiny sees us very well and that the future is written by someone who already knows the end of the stories, otherwise it’s difficult to explain how in December 2007 a young Lionel Messi was photographed together with an even younger Lamine Yamal for a charity calendar.”
This is the first paragraph of an article we published a couple of years ago to tell the story behind one of football’s most iconic photographs. Thanks to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it has gone viral once again. You know the one: a 20-year-old Lionel Messi bathing a newborn baby who would grow up to become none other than Lamine Yamal. Football, bloody hell. Who could have imagined that almost two decades later those same two people would meet on the biggest stage of all, facing each other at a World Cup?
Earlier this week, we published another article explaining why Lionel Messi’s photographs from this World Cup might be the finest visual record of his extraordinary career. We still stand by that idea. But some images transcend even sporting greatness. They become symbols because they connect different eras, generations and destinies in a way that no scriptwriter could ever invent. It’s football reminding us why reality will always produce better stories than fiction.
Atalanta drew inspiration from the architecture of the Gewiss Stadium for their new Home jersey, while Genoa paid tribute to Anfield with a design rooted in one of the club’s most unforgettable European nights. NOCTA returned to design Venezia’s latest kit, Sampdoria delivered what already feels like an instant classic, and Lotto has reintroduced the iconic design of AC Milan’s iconic 1995/96 fourth jersey for Grimsby Town. Slawn teamed up with Ronaldinho and Ravenna by Cipriani for one of the summer’s most surprising collaborations. And while Lecce are yet to unveil their new jersey, they’ve already made headlines by announcing adidas as their new kit supplier.
Salomon is shaping the future of trail running and the 2026 DoloMyths Run showcased a project that goes beyond winning races. This is why.
Innovation and nostalgia. In the former category, both Sporting CP and Palermo are updating their visual identity with striking projects. Meanwhile, Nike is reviving old templates and adidas is set to recreate the iconic Y-3 dragon jersey for Real Madrid.
Talking of photos... The one you can see was taken at Massimiliano Allegri’s first press conference as Napoli coach. It took place in one of the world’s oldest opera houses.
You might have seen the picture of Erling Haaland holding a taxidermy raccoon on his way back from the 2026 World Cup. It’s iconic in its own way and has sparked a debate about whether fashion needs to take itself less seriously and learn from football.
We know you’re looking forward to the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, but don’t forget that before the most important night of the tournament, you have to experience the strangest: the Bronze final. See you next week.