![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/b541f46768f49de4b4daaa2fe0e1403fc6-world-cup-argentina-spain.rsquare.w400.jpg\")
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\n Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, together again.
\n Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Odd Anderson and Paul Ellis\/AFP\/Getty Images\n <\/p>\n
It seems almost amusing that there was ever a discussion about whether or not Lionel Messi<\/a> is the greatest soccer player of all time. The Argentina forward \u2014 who, lest you forget, is still playing here in the MLS for Inter Miami, and will in fact be in New Jersey again this October<\/a> \u2014 has long battled Pele and Diego Maradona for GOAT status, but if there were any doubt left after Argentina\u2019s World Cup win four years ago, there certainly isn\u2019t now. He and his nation have been the cardiac kids of this year\u2019s Cup, scoring 12 different goals after the 75th minute so far, including wild comeback wins against Egypt in the Round of 16 and against poor beleaguered England in the semifinals, both of which took place in Atlanta. (And both of which I was eternally fortunate to witness in person.) Messi has scored and assisted on hundreds upon hundreds of goals in his career, but his setup on the winning goal against England\u2014in which he deked defenders with his left foot and then laid in a platonic ideal cross with his right \u2014 will end up as one of his signature highlights. At 39, he has made certain there are no doubters left. Get your Ronaldo junk out of here.<\/p>\n And now he has just one hill left to climb\u2014one more game to basically achieve the career ending of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, John Elway and Bill Russell combined. On Sunday, at MetLife \u2014 sorry, New York\/New Jersey \u2014 Stadium in East Rutherford, he and Argentina will face favored Spain with an opportunity to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win two straight World Cups. The World Cup Final is, obviously, always a massive, massive deal. But what Messi has a chance to do is unprecedented, really, in the history of sports.<\/p>\n I will be fortunate, once again, to be there in person. (Sorry!) Here\u2019s an FAQ of what you need to know about Sunday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 3 p.m. ET, in East Rutherford. You can watch it on FOX. Unfortunately, they\u2019re letting Alexi Lalas <\/a>attend one more game.<\/p>\n The cheapest ticket currently on SeatGeek is $7,746<\/a>; the best are nearly 50 grand<\/a>.<\/p>\n The apocalyptic smoke that has plagued New York is expected to move out by the latter half of the weekend, along with thunderstorms that look likely on Saturday. As of now, it looks like FIFA will luck out with a seasonably warm, sunny day for the final.<\/p>\n Messi and Argentina\u2019s repeat attempt is the headlining story, but Spain is a soccer powerhouse that has won only once in its history, back in 2010. Spain dismanted tournament favorite France in the semifinals and has looked in control for the entire World Cup, save for a shocking tie against Cabo Verde. Argentina, meanwhile, has needed all those incredible comebacks (including one against Cabo Verde \u2014 them again! \u2014 in what is widely considered this World Cup\u2019s best game) just to survive. Spain is due for a title, but Argentina is reaching for legend. And on an individual level, there\u2019s Messi vs. Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old Spanish wunderkind who looks like the future of soccer. By now, you probably know about their bizarre interaction 19 years ago<\/a>.<\/p>\n Probably! The tournament has obliterated all attendance records, and nearly every game, despite the astronomical ticket prices, has sold out. The best teams advanced, the stars have all been showcased, there are teams from two different continents in the final (two of the most popular teams in the world) and most of the pre-tournament fears (ICE raids, unruly crowds like we saw at the Copa America two years ago, some sort of Trump-related international incident) have ended up not being much of a problem at all. The biggest controversy was of course Trump sticking his nose into the Falorin Balogun red card situation, but that ended up with the US getting eliminated immediately<\/a>, rendering the scandal mostly moot. (For now.) There were think pieces heading into the tournament arguing that this would be a bust; it has been the opposite of that.<\/p>\n Yes, actually! Rodger Sherman notes in his excellent Sports! Newsletter<\/a> that because the next World Cup will take place over three continents, and 2034\u2019s tournament will be in Saudi Arabia (well, probably<\/a>), and because FIFA rules dictate that the 2038 tournament must take place either in Australia or North America. Which means, unless they change those rules (and who has ever known FIFA to be casual with rules?), the tournament could be back here in 12 years. Considering how much money FIFA made during this tournament, it doesn\u2019t seem a stretch to say it likely will be. And one thing that would be less of an issue going in:The president will no longer be Donald Trump. (Right? Right?)<\/p>\n