This past Sunday, Donald Trump made an appearance at the New York/New Jersey stadium in East Rutherford to witness the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. Before the match kicked off, he clearly expressed his admiration for Lionel Messi, stating, "It's hard to bet against Messi."
In a conversation with Fox Sports prior to the game, Trump refrained from openly supporting either team. However, his comments left little doubt about his sentiments.
"The President of Argentina is a good friend of mine and has done an outstanding job. But what I can say is that it's hard to bet against Lionel Messi," Trump mentioned, referring also to his connection with Javier Milei.
"I'm not picking favorites. I just know I wouldn't bet against Messi. He's great," the US president added.
This isn't the first time Trump has praised the Argentine star during the tournament. On Saturday, at the official FIFA reception held at Trump Tower in Manhattan, Trump described in technical detail a play by Messi in the semifinal against England, when the player from Rosario assisted Enzo Fernández for a comeback in the 85th minute.
"It was brilliant. It was just a quarter of an inch away from perfect," Trump said about that move, adding that "Messi and Ronaldo were born with something very special. They are blessed with something extra special."
Trump had not attended any other matches of the tournament, reserving his presence solely for the grand final, where he also plans to present the trophy to the champion alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, following the tradition of the host head of state.
The VIP box on Sunday gathered high-profile global figures: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, the President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Infantino.
Milei, on the other hand, chose not to travel to New Jersey due to superstition and watched the match from the Quinta de Olivos in Buenos Aires, accompanied by his sister Karina.
The clash between Argentina and Spain is unprecedented in World Cup history. At 39 years old, Messi reaches the final with 8 goals and 4 assists in the tournament, matching Brazilian Cafú as the only player to compete in three World Cup finals—2014, 2022, and 2026.
Messi himself described this game as "surely his last match in a World Cup," adding a historic dimension to an encounter that already stands as a milestone in international soccer.
The champion will receive a record-breaking prize of 50 million dollars, the largest in FIFA's history.
Insights on the 2026 World Cup Final
How did Trump express his admiration for Messi?
Trump expressed his admiration by stating that "it's hard to bet against Messi," highlighting the player's exceptional skills and impact on the game.
Who were some of the notable figures present at the World Cup final?
The final was attended by global figures including King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
What makes this World Cup final historic for Messi?
This final is historic for Messi as he equaled Cafú's record of playing in three World Cup finals and described it as "surely his last match in a World Cup," marking a significant moment in his illustrious career.