Kempes and Iniesta present World Cup trophy before Spain-Argentina final

Football legends Mario Kempes and Andrés Iniesta shared a significant moment minutes before the 2026 World Cup final, jointly presenting the coveted trophy. They were joined by Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz for the ceremonial display at MetLife Stadium. This presentation symbolized the immense weight of the trophy and brought together two distinct eras of football greatness.

Kempes, a pivotal figure in Argentina's first World Cup victory in 1978, scored six goals in that tournament, including two crucial goals in the final against the Netherlands. Iniesta, often referred to as "The Brain," was instrumental in Spain's maiden World Cup title in 2010, scoring the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands.

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It's incredible, everyone knows who Messi is, but nobody expected the high level he is performing at.

The final itself featured a compelling matchup between emerging talent Lamine Yamal and Argentine icon Lionel Messi. Yamal, who idolizes Messi, expressed admiration for the Argentine star's sustained high level of performance in the 2026 World Cup. Messi, in turn, acknowledged Yamal as a "great player" with a promising future, but stated Argentina's determination to win.

Earlier, at a FIFA event, Messi had interacted with Yamal, reciprocating the young player's admiration. Messi noted Yamal's status as a global reference point and acknowledged his potential for historic achievements, while also emphasizing Argentina's commitment to securing the victory.

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He is a great player. I followed him a lot because he plays for the club I love. He is already a global reference, he has a great career ahead of him and the opportunity to achieve something historic. But we will give our all so that it is not this time.