Messi: Argentina's World Cup Final Berth Earned Through Hard Work, Not Luck

Argentina captain Lionel Messi declared that his team's hard-fought journey to the 2026 World Cup final is a testament to their relentless work and clinical performance throughout the tournament. He firmly rejected any suggestions that their path to the title match was made easy.

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It's crazy what this group has just achieved once again, reaching a World Cup final. We've been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says.

Argentina secured their spot in the final by overcoming England 2-1 in a dramatic semifinal. After conceding an early goal, Lionel Scaloni's squad rallied with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, with Messi providing both crucial assists. "It's crazy what this group has just achieved once again, reaching a World Cup final," Messi said. "We've been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says."

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We compete, we fight, and we also play well. Look how we played today dominating England while we were losing.

Messi emphasized that Argentina's success stems from more than just fighting spirit, pointing to their tactical prowess against England. "We compete, we fight, and we also play well. Look how we played today dominating England while we were losing," he stated. The 39-year-old expressed immense pride in Argentina reaching consecutive World Cup finals. "I’m very proud and happy to be able to give the Argentine people this special joy," he added.

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I’m very proud and happy to be able to give the Argentine people this special joy.

Argentina is set to face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Meanwhile, England captain Harry Kane attributed his team's defeat to a shift towards overly defensive play after taking the lead. "I'm gutted for all the boys, all the staff, everyone behind the scenes, because we know how much everyone puts into being a successful national team," Kane said. He acknowledged the pain of falling short despite the team's best efforts, noting that England's intensity waned after scoring, allowing Argentina to gain momentum.

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I'm gutted for all the boys, all the staff, everyone behind the scenes, because we know how much everyone puts into being a successful national team.