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Merino: Viral baby photo of Yamal with Messi looked like AI-generated
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Spanish international Mikel Merino addressed the viral photo of Lamine Yamal as a baby with Lionel Messi during a press conference ahead of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Merino confessed he initially thought the image was generated by artificial intelligence. The photo has been widely discussed in the lead-up to the final match scheduled for Sunday at 8 PM. Additionally, the press conference touched on the smoke from Canadian wildfires that has blanketed New York City on the eve of the final. The article is from Record Portugal, a sports news outlet.
Source report
Spanish international addresses the topic of the moment ahead of the World Cup final
The photo showing Lamine Yamal as a baby alongside Lionel Messi has been a hot topic in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for Sunday at 8 PM.
During a press conference, Mikel Merino did not avoid the subject and admitted that he initially believed the image was generated by artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the smoke that has "invaded" New York on the eve of the final — caused by wildfires in Canada — was also discussed during the conversation with journalists.
Kick-off: Sunday, 8 PM
Source
RecordWestern
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