Messi: 'Whatever Happens, This Team Has Made History'

Lionel Messi shared an emotional message on Instagram ahead of Argentina's 2026 World Cup final match against Spain, emphasizing the team's historic achievement regardless of the result. The captain reflected on the team's journey, stating that the shared experiences and overcoming difficult moments were more significant than titles.

"Pase lo que pase mañana, este grupo ya escribió una historia que nunca vamos a olvidar y que nadie podrá borrar. Vamos Argentina," Messi wrote, posting a photo of the entire squad. He extended his gratitude to his teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone working daily to maintain the team's family atmosphere.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) echoed the sentiment, with president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia sharing the same image on X with a concise message: "Aferrados a esta ilusión. Todos juntos. Somos AFA." The national team's official X account also released a one-and-a-half-minute video montage set to Bill Conti's "Going the Distance." The video revisits the journeys of key players, including Messi, and references historical Argentine football figures like Diego Maradona and César Menotti, highlighting the team's triumphs under coach Lionel Scaloni, such as the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, and the 2022 Finalissima.

Meanwhile, the Spanish national team's X account posted a video that began with a 2022 press conference clip where Aymeric Laporte was asked about Spain's potential to win the World Cup.