TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Argentine maestro Lionel Messi remains the focal point of attention ahead of the 2026 World Cup final. The 39-year-old forward appeared at the Fanatics Fest event in New York on Friday, July 17, 2026, alongside global sporting icons Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, and Kevin Durant.
Brady holds the record for the most Super Bowl titles in NFL history. Djokovic claims the record for the most men's singles Grand Slam titles in tennis history, while Durant stands as the first male basketball player to capture four Olympic gold medals.
Despite their own legendary status, the trio carved out time to pose for a photograph with Messi after the event concluded. The moment trained the spotlight squarely back on the Argentine captain ahead of Sunday's high-stakes showdown against Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, airing early Monday, July 20, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. WIB. "We will give it our all," Messi stated, as reported by ESPN.
Fanatics Fest marked Messi's final public appearance prior to the championship match. FIFA selected the four-day New York sports festival as the official venue for the pre-final press conference, granting hundreds of fans a rare opportunity to see the Argentine and Spanish squads and coaching staffs up close.
Spanish captain Rodri openly expressed his admiration for the talismanic forward. "It goes beyond words what Messi means as a player and what he means for Argentina. Obviously, for me, he's the greatest of all time," Rodri admitted.
From Brady to Djokovic: Icons Turn Interviewers
Unlike the usual press conferences, FIFA introduced a refreshing, unique concept for the event. The sporting luminaries stepped into the shoes of journalists, interviewing the players and managers of both finalist teams. Djokovic opened by asking Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni about managing pressure, before directing a similar query to Messi. Upon receiving their insights, the Serbian tennis maestro concluded the exchange by saying, "Gracias, Leo."
Djokovic then conversed with Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente and Rodri regarding strategies for maintaining composure during high-stakes fixtures. Gridiron legend Tom Brady took the floor next. He quizzed Messi about the iconic photograph of him bathing an infant Lamine Yamal, an image that has enjoyed a massive viral resurgence ahead of the final.
Brady also invited Rodri to share the message he intends to deliver to his teammates before they walk out for the final. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant pressed Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on what it truly means to defend a world championship title.
The athletes and tacticians from both camps appeared to relish the relaxed atmosphere. Scaloni reminded his squad to block out the scale and pressure of the upcoming fixture. "It's one more game. We cannot really think about the fact that it's a World Cup final," he remarked.
Argentina’s Testing Road to the Final
Argentina stormed into the final with an unblemished record, securing victories in all seven of their outings. They stand alone as the only squad to avoid defeat or even a single draw throughout the entire tournament. In contrast, Spain commands a record of six wins and one draw, having been held by Cape Verde in their tournament opener.
Even so, La Albiceleste's path to the final was anything but straightforward. Scaloni’s men found themselves staring down a 2-0 deficit against Egypt in the round of 16 before staging a comeback. They were also pushed to the limit in extra time against Cape Verde in the round of 32 and against Switzerland during the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Argentina put their championship pedigree on full display yet again. They overturned a 1-0 second-half deficit to eventually sink England 2-1. "I've said many times: We never stop fighting," Messi reflected.
When Messi stepped onto the stage at Fanatics Fest, the initial reaction from the audience was not applause. Instead, a sea of smartphones went up as fans scrambled to capture the moment. Messi responded with a warm smile and a wave, triggering cheers from the crowd.
The star-studded event concluded with an exclusive group photo session. Joining the players and coaching staff of Argentina and Spain were Hollywood actor Kevin Hart, musician Travis Scott, former England defender Rio Ferdinand, and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. "Sunday is going to be a great show," Scaloni remarked.
Before exiting the venue, Messi cast a glance at the World Cup trophy on display in the pavilion. The historic opportunity to defend their global crown is now firmly within arm's reach. Should they overcome Spain, Argentina will become the first nation to successfully retain the World Cup since Brazil's iconic back-to-back triumphs in 1958 and 1962.
"We've got a group of players and a group of coaches that are working incredibly hard every single day to try to bring happiness to my country," Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez expressed. "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 and celebrate with our people."
Read: US to Impose Flight Restrictions over New York During World Cup Final
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