NEW YORK — Lionel Messi shared the stage with some of the biggest names in global sport on Friday as anticipation built for Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic and Kevin Durant joined Messi during a special FIFA event at Fanatics Fest in New York, with the sporting icons posing for a group selfie after the appearance.
The event served as FIFA’s official media preview for the World Cup final, replacing the traditional pre-match news conference with a public session featuring questions from fellow athletes rather than journalists.
“We will give it our all,” Messi said.
Brady asked Messi about the now-famous 2007 photograph showing the Argentine star holding a baby during a UNICEF campaign. That child, Spain winger Lamine Yamal, will line up against Messi in Sunday’s final.
“What a crazy picture,” Messi said.
Djokovic questioned Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni about handling pressure before asking Messi how he copes with the expectations surrounding football’s biggest stage.
After Messi responded, Djokovic simply replied: “Gracias, Leo.”
Spain captain Rodri described the Argentina captain as the greatest player in football history.
“It goes beyond words what Messi means as a player and what he means for Argentina,” Rodri said. “Obviously, for me, he’s the greatest of all times.”
Durant also joined the discussion, asking Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez what it would mean to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
Argentina enters Sunday’s final with a perfect seven wins from seven matches but has needed several dramatic escapes along the way, rallying from late deficits against Egypt and England while requiring extra time to eliminate both Cape Verde and Switzerland.
“I’ve said many times: We never stop fighting,” Messi said.
Scaloni insisted his players would treat the final like any other match despite the occasion.
“It’s one more game,” the Argentina coach said. “We cannot really think about the fact that it’s a World Cup final.”
The event concluded with Messi, both squads, coaches, Brady, Djokovic, Durant, actor Kevin Hart, rapper Travis Scott, former England defender Rio Ferdinand and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin gathering for a group photograph in front of hundreds of fans.
“Sunday is going to be a great show,” Scaloni said.
Argentina is bidding to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup, while Spain seeks its second world title after triumphing in 2010.
“We’ve got a group of players and a group of coaches that are working incredibly hard every single day to try to bring happiness to my country,” Martínez said. “We’re going to give absolutely our best, with Leo, with the team that we have, to bring the World Cup back to my country and celebrate with our people.”
Source: Saudi Gazette