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The U.S. Politician Who Thought Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal’s Viral Photo Was AI-Generated
The iconic photo has gone viral again ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted Thursday that he believed the viral photograph showing Lionel Messi bathing Lamine Yamal as a baby was created using artificial intelligence (AI).
The Viral Comment
“As someone who likes to consider himself a technology expert and capable of telling the difference between an AI-generated image and a real one, I thought the photo of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal was AI,” Mamdani said during a press conference.
He Doesn’t Want to Jinx the Final
The Democrat said he was “excited” about the fact that the two football stars will face each other this Sunday at the New York/New Jersey stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, where Spain and Argentina will compete for the title.
“That’s pretty incredible, so I’m excited. As any classic politician would say, I hope it’s a good game,” Mamdani said.
When asked which team he would support in the final, Mamdani joked that every team he has backed “has lost.”
“I have a feeling that, at this point, whoever I choose is going to lose,” he said, avoiding taking sides ahead of the highly anticipated showdown.
