Lionel Messi has promised Argentina will leave everything on the field when the defending champions face Spain in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, as the football icon prepares for another chance to add to one of the sport’s greatest careers.
Speaking during a special World Cup event in New York on Friday, Messi said Argentina remains fully focused on defending its title despite the enormous expectations surrounding the final.
“We will give it our all,” Messi said as anticipation builds for one of the most anticipated World Cup finals in recent history.
The appearance came two days before Argentina meets European champion Spain at MetLife Stadium, where the South American champions will attempt to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cup titles.
What we know so far
Messi joined Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and captain Rodri at a FIFA media event held during Fanatics Fest in New York.
The event featured several global sports icons, including Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic and Kevin Durant, who participated in a discussion with the finalists before posing for photographs with Messi.
During the session, Brady asked Messi about a widely circulated photograph showing him holding a baby who later became Spain’s teenage star Lamine Yamal.
“What a crazy picture,” Messi said with a smile.
Djokovic questioned Scaloni and Messi about handling pressure in major competitions before thanking the Argentine captain in Spanish at the end of the exchange.
Argentina enters the final unbeaten throughout the tournament after overcoming several difficult knockout matches.
The defending champions rallied from second half deficits to eliminate both Egypt in the Round of 16 and England in the semifinals. They also required extra time to overcome Cape Verde and Switzerland in earlier rounds.
Messi credited the team’s resilience for reaching another World Cup final.
“I’ve said many times. We never stop fighting,” he said.
Spain, meanwhile, arrives after defeating France in the semifinal and will attempt to win its second World Cup title after lifting the trophy in 2010.
What authorities and team leaders are saying
Scaloni insisted his players are treating Sunday’s match like any other despite its historic significance.
“It is one more game,” the Argentina coach said. “We cannot really think about the fact that it’s a World Cup final.”
Speaking separately in New York, Scaloni said the emotional support from Argentine supporters continues to inspire the squad.
“You see your people, how they celebrate and how happy they are. It is impossible not to be touched by that,” he said.
He added that the team plays for its country, its families and the millions of supporters following every match.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez echoed that message, praising Argentina’s passionate fan base.
“The fans are absolutely incredible,” Martinez said. “We are going to do our best to bring the cup back to our country.”
Martinez also noted that this tournament has been a more enjoyable experience than Argentina’s 2022 campaign, when the team recovered from an opening defeat before eventually winning the championship.
Spain captain Rodri also paid tribute to Messi ahead of Sunday’s final.
“What Messi means for Argentina goes beyond words,” Rodri said. “For me, he is the greatest of all time.”
Scaloni confirmed his squad arrived in New Jersey after Wednesday’s semifinal victory over England and said players were recovering well despite having one less day of preparation than Spain.
Why this matters
Sunday’s final could become one of the defining matches of modern international football.
Argentina is seeking to become only the third nation to successfully defend a World Cup title since the tournament began. Brazil remains the last team to achieve the feat after winning consecutive championships in 1958 and 1962.
For Messi, the match represents another opportunity to strengthen a legacy already considered among the greatest in football history. At 39, he continues to perform at the highest level while leading Argentina through another unbeaten World Cup campaign.
The final also showcases two contrasting football philosophies. Argentina has relied on resilience, experience and decisive moments from Messi, while Spain has impressed throughout the tournament with disciplined possession, tactical control and a new generation led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Beyond the sporting significance, the match highlights football’s continued global appeal. FIFA expects hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide to watch the championship, making it one of the year’s most watched sporting events.
What happens next
Argentina and Spain will meet in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Argentina is attempting to secure a fourth World Cup title and become the first team in more than six decades to retain the trophy.
Spain is aiming to capture its second World Cup championship and complete another remarkable international campaign.
Regardless of the outcome, Sunday’s contest is expected to mark another historic chapter for Messi, whose future in international football beyond this tournament remains uncertain.
Argentina’s path to the final demonstrates why the team remains exceptionally difficult to defeat. Unlike champions that dominate every match from start to finish, Scaloni’s squad has repeatedly shown an ability to recover under pressure, adjusting tactically and maintaining composure during critical moments. That resilience could prove decisive against a Spain side that prefers to dictate possession and tempo.
For Messi, the occasion carries significance beyond trophies. His leadership has evolved from being solely Argentina’s primary playmaker to becoming the emotional centerpiece of a mature squad capable of sharing responsibility. Whether or not this proves to be his final World Cup appearance, another championship would further cement one of football’s most extraordinary international careers.
The matchup also symbolizes a changing of generations. While Messi continues to lead Argentina, Spain arrives with emerging stars expected to shape world football for the next decade. Sunday’s final therefore represents both the culmination of one era and the beginning of another.
TheAssociatedPress/Reuters
