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This final will be the clash between two of the world’s biggest football teams. (Img: X)
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Live: Lionel Messi claimed another iconic moment for his legendary 39-year-old career before the first ball was even kicked in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, as he led Argentina against Spain in the summit showdown, becoming the first player ever to captain a nation three times in a FIFA World Cup final.
Messi had already led Argentina in the 2014 final against Germany and the 2022 winning final against France, but this time the renowned striker, wearing the captain's armband again, strutted out in New York New Jersey Stadium to pursue a fourth World Cup title and a second consecutive win.
There has never been a footballer who has led their nation in three World Cup finals before Messi's appearance in the global tournament's final.
Messi first captained his nation in a World Cup final in Brazil against Germany, which Argentina lost 1-0 after extra time. Then, in 2022, Messi achieved his lifelong objective of winning the World Cup in Qatar, as Argentina beat France in one of football's most famous turns of events.
This year in 2026, Messi has returned to the biggest arena of them all again, extending a record that could still last in the many decades to come.
Argentina secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over England to reach the final.
The Spaniards were on course to win until Enzo Fernández's efforts in the second half negated the early lead, followed by Lautaro Martínez's stoppage-time winner that sent the defending champions back to the World Cup final.
In the earlier stages of the tournament, Lionel Scaloni's Argentina beat Cabo Verde in the last 32, Egypt in the round of 16 and Switzerland in the last eight.
Scaloni's consistent, 2022 World Cup-winning campaign will also be critical as they defend the title.
Lionel Scaloni made three changes to the side that beat England in the semifinal.
Rodrigo De Paul, Nico González and Gonzalo Montiel were in the starting XI in place of Leandro Paredes, Giuliano Simeone and Nahuel Molina.
Montiel's selection was notable, after he converted the penalty to seal Argentina's World Cup win over France in 2022.
Eight of the players who started Argentina's 2022 World Cup final win for the World Cup went into the starting line-up, adding to the continuity that has driven the success of Scaloni's project.
They did. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente kept the side unchanged after his team won the 2-0 semifinal defeat of France.
Even though he had missed out on training with the team earlier in the week after suffering a knock, striker Lamine Yamal was fit and ready to take charge of the attack, while Fabián Ruiz went back in midfield ahead of Pedri.
Spain made it to the final by beating Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France, all in a drive to win their first World Cup since their historic triumph in South Africa in 2010.
This final will be the clash between two of the world’s biggest football teams.
Argentina went into the final as defending world champions and Spain went in as reigning European champions, and it was also the first time that a FIFA World Cup final faced the current champions of both South America and Europe.
The final also saw Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet on the international stage for the first time to represent two football generations.
In Argentina, Julian Álvarez, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez have given Messi the ideal support system throughout the finals, enabling the captain to keep changing the course of football's biggest games.
Whatever the end result, the 2026 FIFA World Cup final will forever remain the night that football legend Lionel Messi etched another line of history by becoming the first footballer to captain his country in three FIFA World Cup finals. A feat that only adds to one of football's greatest legends.
