Hours before the final of the 2026 World Cup against Spain, Lionel Messi shared a message of gratitude on his Instagram account addressed to his teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone who works to ensure that the Argentine national team operates like a family.
"The most beautiful thing about all these years has never been just the titles, but the entire journey. Sharing day by day with this group, competing together, lifting each other up in difficult moments, and enjoying every step," wrote the albiceleste captain alongside a group photo of the Argentine delegation.
The message concluded with a phrase full of emotion: "No matter what happens tomorrow, this group has already written a story we will never forget and that nobody can erase. LET'S GO ARGENTINA."
The publication also included an explicit thank you: "Thanks to each of my teammates, to the coaching staff, and to everyone who works every day to keep this team a family."
Argentina faces Spain this Sunday, July 19, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, the name used by FIFA for the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Albiceleste will be seeking their fourth World Cup, following their victories in 1978, 1986, and 2022. Spain, on the other hand, will aim to add their second title after winning in South Africa in 2010.
A victory would make Argentina the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win two consecutive World Cups, a feat that hasn't been recorded in 64 years.
For Messi, 39 years old, it will be his third World Cup final, following those played in Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022. FIFA confirmed that the Argentine will play in his third final.
If he participates, he will equal Cafú as the only footballers who have played on the pitch in three World Cup finals. The Brazilian did so in 1994, 1998, and 2002.
If Messi is in the starting eleven, he will also become the first player to start in three World Cup finals, as Cafú came on as a substitute in 1994.
Messi arrives at the match with eight goals and four assists in the tournament. However, Kylian Mbappé currently leads the Golden Boot standings with ten goals, having scored two against England in the third-place match.
Those two goals also brought Mbappé to 22 in World Cup history, one more than Messi's 21. The Argentine can still match or surpass him during the final.
Argentina secured a spot in the decisive match after defeating England 2-1 on July 15 in Atlanta. The English took the lead, but Enzo Fernández equalized, and Lautaro Martínez completed the comeback with a header in the final minutes.
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