FC Barcelona have Lionel Messi to thank for his golden touch, as he not only bathed Lamine Yamal as a baby but also met young Dani Olmo, Fermin López, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde, all wonderkids who have grown to become the pride of the Catalunya club.

Where has Lionel Messi met each of these kids, and what have they grown to become?

Dani Olmo

Dani Olmo spent seven years at FC Barcelona's La Masia academy from 2007–2014 before securing a permanent move to Dinamo Zagreb and to RB Leipzig and has now rejoined FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick.

Recalling how he met Lionel Messi as a kid, Olmo said:

"One time, before I even joined La Masia, I followed my father [Miguel Olmo] while he was managing a game at Castelldefels," Dani Olmo told The Players Tribune.

"I was eight years old. I was happy and kicking the ball alone when someone—II think it was a friend of my dad's—ccame over and told me, 'Hey, Dani, come here! You’re not going to believe this. You’re going to have your picture taken with Lionel Messi!'

"Apparently, Messi had a friend playing in the Castelldefels game and had come down to see him."

"Wow, Messi, right? In Castelldefels? What kid wouldn't want a picture with him? Well me! I said something like, "No thanks. I'm fine. I want to keep playing! It's just a picture, right?' But, against my will, they put me next to Messi, and we took the photo."

"I didn't even say anything to him. I just waited for the click, and then I went back to my ball, like I was doing him a favor."

Dani Olmo eventually signed into La Masia Academy, and that picture, which he was sceptical to take with Lionel Messi as a kid, has not only become one of his most valuable possessions but also one of the most famous photos in the history of football.

"In the end, I have to say I’m glad they forced me, because I’ve still got that picture framed at home. At the time, though, I wasn’t happy to have my valuable playing time interruptedd—even by an icon." Dani Olmo admits.

Dani Olmo's honors include 2 player of the year at Dinamo Zagreb, top scorer at Euro 2024 with 3 goals, European championship winner 2024, 1 German Supercup, and more accolades still to come at Barcelona.

Lamine Yamal

Old photos of young Lionel Messi with baby Lamine Yamal went viral as they resurfaced online and people began to question their authenticity. 

Lionel Messi was photographed alongside the youngster's mother, Sheila Ebana, bathing a six-month-old Yamal in a photo that was first posted on social media by the teenager's father, Mounir Nasraoui.

Recalling the event that led to the iconic moment, the BBC reports that Messi, who was 20 at the time in 2007, was specially called by FC Barcelona to pose for the photoshoot.

The images taken by Joan Monfort were part of a series of photographs for a charity calendar organized by Catalan newspaper Diario Sport in conjunction with UNICEF.

Joan Monfort narrates that the photoshoot happened after Unicef did a raffle in the town of Mataró, where Lamine’s family lived.

"They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barça player. And they won the raffle," Mr. Monfort told the Associated Press.

“Messi was coming out of the locker room, and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.”

"It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation. To tell you the truth, it’s a very nice feeling," concluded Joan Monfort.

16 years later, Lamine Yamal, following in the footstep of his idol Lionel Messi, has broken several records playing for FC Barcelona as the most expensive teenager in the world and has added a long list of honors to his name.

Youngest player to start a LaLiga game, Youngest player to provide an assist in LaLiga, Youngest blaugrana debut in the Champions League, Youngest player to feature in the European Championships,Youngest provider of an assist in the Euros, youngest player in the knockout stage of the Euros, youngest goalscorer in the European Championships, youngest player in a Euro final, Youngest player to win a major international trophy, Young Player of the Euro 2024 tournament, Best Goal of Euro winner, and so on.

"He looks like he has been touched by the wand of God. He is different." Luis de la Fuente, Spain head coach, comments on young Lamine.

Gavi 

Barça wonderkid Gavi is another kid that Messi touched as a kid, and the youngster has spoken of his pride at following in the direction of the Barcelona legend to become a La Liga champion under Xavi Hernandez and dwarfing his peers to win the Golden Boy award in 2022.

Speaking with Mundodeportivo, Gavi said:

"It is a source of pride to take over from Pedri and receive awards that Messi, who is a great reference and, for me, the best player in history, also won.”

Gavi has been sidelined since November 2023, after a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus playing on international duty for Spain.

He's been tipped to return soon and help FC Barcelona to more glory. 

And just to prove how important he is as a player, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente specially honored him as part of the team of the Spanish Euro 2024 winner. 

Fermin López

Fermin López is another La Masia gem whose picture as a kid with Lionel Messi back in 2018 can be found everywhere on the net with a string of keywords.

The Barça Atlètic wonderkid will always remember 27 August 2023, when he made his official first team debut against Villarreal in the Estadio de la Cerámica under Xavi Hernandez as manager.

The Andalucian, ever since debuting, has displayed the ability, charisma, and fearlessness needed to become a Barcelona great, just like his idol Leo Messi.

His intelligence when it comes to movement off the ball and how he meticulously analyzes games to consistently find himself in the right place at the right time is evident in his goal tally.

Fermin recorded 11 goals for FC Barcelona in his debut season, including a goal against Real Madrid to celebrate like his idol.

"I celebrated it that way because that's how Messi celebrated it, not because of Jude Bellingham."

That's not all, the Barça prodigy was the outstanding star of the men's football tournament at the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

His remarkable six goals, one assist in six matches at the tournament spearheaded Spainish-U23 team to its finest set of Gold medal since 1992, and in doing so he becomes Spain's highest goalscorer ever at the Olympic games.

Fermín López returns to FC Barcelona with a gold medal, MVP of the tournament and a historic record of goalscorers.

All this happened after winning the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany 2024 with Spain senior team. Impressive!