Messi leads Argentina against Spain in blockbuster World Cup final

Lionel Messi's battle-hardened Argentina will clash with a skillful Spain in Sunday's World Cup final, bringing the first 48-team tournament in history to a dramatic conclusion in New Jersey. Argentina is striving to achieve a historic feat, aiming to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. Spain, meanwhile, is looking to secure its second title, having previously triumphed in 2010.

This showpiece event is widely expected to be the final World Cup appearance for Messi, a player consistently regarded as the greatest of all time. Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, has urged fans to savor the moment of seeing the 39-year-old legend lead his team onto the MetLife Stadium pitch. "He has made history. He is a legend," Scaloni said of the former Barcelona star, who was instrumental in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar. The three-time champions have demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the 2026 tournament, staging dramatic comebacks from two-goal deficits in both the round of 16 against Egypt and their semi-final against England.

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He has made history. He is a legend.

Spain has presented a near-flawless campaign, conceding only one goal in their seven matches and decisively defeating France in the semi-finals. Spain's captain, Rodri, anticipates a "physical" battle and intends to disregard any potential "provocations." "It will be more physical, and we must be prepared," the midfielder stated. "But I believe that if we are known for something in this national team, it is that we know how to play different games based on the moment."

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It will be more physical, and we must be prepared. But I believe that if we are known for something in this national team, it is that we know how to play different games based on the moment.

In the third-place playoff, England secured a 6-4 victory over France, marking their best finish since their 1966 tournament win. Kylian Mbappe became the competition's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Messi by one. Mbappe, with 10 goals in the 2026 tournament, is two ahead of Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. "I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and to be playing tomorrow's match," Mbappe commented.

Amidst the final preparations, a persistent, choking smog from Canadian wildfires has blanketed the eastern United States, leading to advisories for residents in New York, Washington, and the US Midwest to stay indoors due to poor air quality. At one point on Saturday, New York City was the most polluted city globally, though conditions are expected to improve before the final. The match will be attended by a crowd of 80,000, including US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, marking the presence of leaders from all three host nations. The event's entertainment will feature performances from stars like Tom Cruise, Madonna, and Shakira.

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I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and to be playing tomorrow's match.