Messi rallies Argentina in the tunnel before second half against Spain: “Let’s play”

Lionel Messi gathered Argentina’s players in the tunnel before the second half and tried to lift a team that had struggled to impose itself against Spain.

“Let’s play, let’s play! Come on!” the captain called out as the squad waited to return to the field. His short rallying cry drew applause from the rest of the team.

Argentina had tried to push its defensive line forward, but the final had settled in midfield, where Spain handled possession more clearly. The first half produced few dangerous chances. Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez kept Argentina in the match with saves from Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal, while Argentina dropped several metres after the hydration break. Messi found himself isolated in attack, and Julián Álvarez worked hard to press an organised Spanish defence.

Argentina also suffered a late first-half setback when Lisandro Martínez left with an injury and Nicolás Otamendi replaced him. Lionel Scaloni made three changes from the side that beat England in the semifinals, bringing in Gonzalo Montiel, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolás González for Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes and Giuliano Simeone. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente kept the lineup used in the previous two knockout rounds.

Argentina were seeking a fourth World Cup and a chance to become the first team to defend the title since Brazil won in 1958 and 1962. Spain were pursuing a second championship and the possibility of becoming the first country to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time. The final was the 104th match of the 2026 tournament, the first expanded to 48 teams and jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Before kickoff, the competition had already produced 307 goals, a tournament record.

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Let’s play, let’s play! Come on!