New York: Scaloni praises Messi ahead of World Cup final against Spain

By Rohan Gupta — 18 July 2026 — 3 min read

Argentina prepares for World Cup final

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, captain Lionel Messi, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez met with the media in New York City on Friday. Their press conference took place two days before Argentina’s second consecutive World Cup final appearance. The team is set to face Spain on Sunday.

Many did not expect Argentina, a team built around an experienced core and led by a 39-year-old talisman, to reach this stage. However, the squad has delivered a series of intense and dynamic performances, culminating in a semi-final victory over England.

Spain presents a contrasting style of play, characterized by possession-based football and a well-organized defense. While Argentina’s journey to the final has been described as chaotic, Spain’s path has been more controlled.

Scaloni’s concerns and confidence

Scaloni acknowledged the challenge that Spain poses, describing them as a formidable opponent. He expressed his concern about the Spanish team, stating, “If Spain leaves the hotel, I am already concerned. Once they are on the bus and they leave the hotel, I am concerned. They are a great team. Everything concerns me about Spain.”

Argentina is the defending World Cup champion, while Spain last won the tournament in 2010. Despite Argentina’s recent experience in a final, Scaloni does not believe it gives them an advantage over Spain, noting that Spain’s players have also participated in significant matches.

“They also have players who have played in globally big stages,” Scaloni said. “And they are top players for their teams. So when it comes to pressure, when the ball starts rolling, players forget about this and they just focus on playing. They played a Euro final and a Nations League final. They also have a great deal of experience. I don’t think being in a final again plays in our favor.”

Spain, along with England and France, were widely anticipated to reach the final. Argentina remains a strong side, but perhaps without the same level of expectation as some other teams. Scaloni, Martinez, and Messi all spoke about a carefree approach to their game, rooted in their early experiences.

“The best thing we have is that we’ve grown up in rough places playing ball,” Scaloni explained. “Playing soccer and not thinking about what other people say. The pressure stays to the side, it’s not worth worrying about … [On Sunday, we need to] do what we’ve done since the beginning, just play ball and don’t even think about what could happen.”

Messi echoed these sentiments, adding, “We grew up playing football with a lot of passion and with a lot of desire, all the time, wherever – in the school, the street, we played with little teams in our neighborhoods. We never thought of pressure. It always felt natural, the act of playing, of competing. This is a team sport, the rival always plays as well and you can’t always win. But since we were little, I learned that you lose more than you win. That made me grow a lot as a person and player.”

Tribute to Messi’s legacy

The upcoming final could potentially be Messi’s last game for Argentina. When asked about Messi’s legacy, Scaloni initially deferred, saying, “Ask Leo,” before reflecting on the significance of the moment.

“He is pure history,” Scaloni stated. “A legend. Reaching a final at 39 years of age is unbelievable. We must enjoy him as it happens. With Diego [Maradona], we miss him. But Messi is still with us. He is the history, he is the legend, and together with this group of people who have brought us these wonderful years, we’ll always remember him.”

The final match between Argentina and Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled for Sunday.

Source: theguardian.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter