By our reporter 17.7.2026
Argentina super star Lionel Messi said his country have been the team to beat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and would prove it by lifting the title in Sunday’s final against Spain.
Argentina set up the final clash with Spain… the second final in a row for Messi after they sensationally dumped England with a comeback 2-1. However, throughout the tournament talks of FIFA wanting Argentina and Messi to win again have overshadowed their performances.
In their round of 16 game Egypt put Argentina on the ropes with a two-goal lead, but they came back with a last minute 3-2 win; a match Egypt believe they were robbed after having what should have been a goal cancelled and Mohammed Salah denied a penalty.
Switzerland also described the refereeing decisions in their quarter-final defeat to Argentina as ‘one-sided’ and ‘baffling’, but after the game against England, Messi insisted that La Albiceleste had not benefited from favouritism.
“Let people keep enjoying it,” Messi said.
“What this group has achieved is incredible – another final, we’ve come back to be world champions, we’re the best in the world after these four years, whether people like it or not, and no matter what they say.
“This proves that what we did wasn’t by chance and that nobody gave us anything. Reaching two World Cup finals is something few achieve, and this group did it.
“This group doesn’t surprise me. I know, and we knew what we were capable of. People out there had doubts, but when this group comes together and is united, it finds what it doesn’t have to give its all.”
Lionel Messi...delivering for Argentina.