Argentina Fans Rally in Times Square Before 2026 World Cup Final

Q: With Mbappé securing the Golden Boot, can Messi counter with the one prize that matters most tomorrow?

Yes. Mbappé has locked up the individual scoring prize, but Messi can answer with the only trophy that will define Sunday: the World Cup. France’s third-place game ended the Golden Boot race in Mbappé’s favor after his two goals took him to 10 for the tournament, ahead of Messi’s eight. That also pushed Mbappé past Messi as the men’s all-time World Cup leading scorer. But Argentina’s focus is now entirely on the final against Spain at MetLife Stadium, where the team prize outweighs any individual award. Messi has still been central to Argentina’s run. At 39, in his sixth World Cup, he has produced eight goals and four assists, including a hat trick against Algeria and two assists in the semifinal comeback against England. Argentina, the defending champion from 2022, is one win from a fourth world title and a rare second straight men’s World Cup crown. The challenge is substantial. Spain arrives as European champion after eliminating Portugal, Belgium and France, and is widely viewed as a slight favorite because of its control of possession and depth. But Argentina has shown resilience throughout the tournament, with late comebacks, an experienced core under Lionel Scaloni, and Messi still driving decisive moments. So the answer is straightforward: Messi cannot take back the Golden Boot, but he can still win the prize that matters most — and if Argentina beats Spain, that will be the lasting headline.

Q: Can Messi's final World Cup act deliver a historic back-to-back title against European champions Spain?

Yes — Argentina has a real chance to make history, but Spain is the toughest possible opponent. The stakes are exceptional. Argentina, the 2022 champion, is trying to become the first men’s team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. For Lionel Messi, now 39 and playing his sixth World Cup, it is widely viewed as his final appearance on this stage. He has driven Argentina’s run with eight goals and four assists, including a hat trick against Algeria and two assists in the semifinal comeback against England. Argentina’s case rests on more than Messi alone. Lionel Scaloni has kept the core of the 2022 title team intact, with Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Julián Alvarez giving the side balance, experience and resilience. Argentina has repeatedly shown it can survive pressure and produce late decisive moments. Spain, though, arrives as European champion and arguably the most complete team in the tournament. Luis de la Fuente’s side came through a brutal knockout path — Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France — and is built around control of possession, with Rodri central to that approach. That style is designed to limit Messi’s touches and force Argentina to defend for long stretches. So the answer is yes, Messi can deliver it — but only if Argentina turns the final into the kind of emotionally charged, high-leverage match it has mastered. If Spain dictates tempo cleanly, the title defense becomes far harder.

3 articles · Updated · Russellville Courier · Jul 18

Argentina supporters gathered in New York's Times Square on Saturday, rallying on the eve of the 2026 World Cup final.
The crowd turned the tourist hub into a pre-match gathering point as fans assembled ahead of Sunday's championship game.
The rally underscored the World Cup's reach in the United States, with New York drawing international supporters before the tournament's final match.