The viral photograph of Lionel Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal has sparked widespread debate online, with many social media users dismissing it as artificial intelligence-generated or digitally manipulated.

When brilliant Spain teenager Lamine Yamal embraced a tearful Lionel Messi at the end of the World Cup final, it looked and felt symbolic.

Messi broke Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 all-time World Cup goals early in the tournament, and he finished with 21, though he was caught ‌and surpassed by Kylian Mbappe (22).