Messi vows Argentina will ‘give it our all’ in World Cup final

Lionel Messi declared Argentina's intent to defend their World Cup title on Sunday, telling a packed crowd at Fanatics Fest in New York on Friday that his team "never stop fighting" ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain.sports.inquirer

The appearance at the Javits Center marked Messi's last public event before the championship match at MetLife Stadium — temporarily rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium — in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Argentina will seek to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.nbcnewyork+1

A Star-Studded Send-Off

FIFA chose Fanatics Fest as the backdrop for its final preview press conferences, replacing the traditional media format with questions posed by fellow sports icons. Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, and Kevin Durant took turns interviewing Messi, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, and Spain captain Rodri on stage Friday evening.sports.inquirer

Brady asked Messi about the viral photo showing a young Messi bathing a baby who grew up to be Spain sensation Lamine Yamal. "What a crazy picture," Messi said. Djokovic probed Scaloni about handling pressure. When the session ended, the Serbian tennis champion simply said, "Gracias, Leo."sports.inquirer

Argentina's Resilient Path

Argentina enter the final as the tournament's only unbeaten and untied team at 7-0-0, but their route was far from comfortable. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit against Egypt in the Round of 16, needed extra time against both Cape Verde and Switzerland, and overcame a 1-0 second-half deficit against England in the semifinals.sports.inquirer

"We will give it our all," Messi said. "I've said many times: We never stop fighting."sports.inquirer

Spain captain Rodri offered his own tribute to the opponent he will face Sunday. "It goes beyond words what Messi means as a player and what he means for Argentina," Rodri said. "Obviously, for me, he's the greatest of all times."sports.inquirer

Sunday's Stage

The final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000. FIFA has confirmed that President Donald Trump will attend and present the trophy to the winning side. The match will also feature a halftime show with performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Burna Boy.fifa+2

No team has successfully defended the World Cup in over six decades. For Messi, widely expected to be playing his last World Cup, the stakes could not be higher. As Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez put it Friday: "We're going to give absolutely our best, with Leo, with the team that we have, to bring the World Cup back to my country."sports.inquirer