Lionel Messi etched his name into football history on Sunday by becoming the first player to captain his country in three FIFA World Cup finals. The Argentina skipper achieved the unprecedented milestone as he led the defending champions onto the pitch against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

The 39-year-old had previously captained Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and the unforgettable 2022 title clash against France. While the 2014 campaign ended in heartbreak following a 1-0 extra-time defeat, Messi returned eight years later to inspire Argentina to one of the greatest World Cup triumphs in history, defeating France on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw in Qatar.

By leading Argentina once again on football’s biggest stage, Messi became the first captain in the tournament’s 96-year history to feature in three World Cup finals. The occasion also presented him with the opportunity to become only the third captain to lift back-to-back FIFA World Cup trophies, adding another remarkable achievement to his legendary career.

Argentina’s Late Equaliser Against England

Messi has once again been at the heart of Argentina’s run to the final. Heading into the decider, the veteran forward had scored eight goals and registered four assists, leaving him firmly in contention for the tournament’s Golden Boot. Argentina secured their place in the final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the semifinals, where Enzo Fernández equalised before Lautaro Martinez struck a stoppage-time winner.

Spain, meanwhile, reached their first World Cup final since winning the tournament in 2010 after defeating France 2-0 in the semifinals. Lamine Yamal continued his outstanding campaign by winning the penalty converted by Mikel Oyarzabal, while Pedro Porro sealed the victory with Spain’s sixth clean sheet in seven matches.

For the title clash, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni made three changes to his starting lineup, recalling Gonzalo Montiel, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Gonzalez. Messi once again led the side in attack alongside Julian Alvarez, with Emiliano Martinez starting in goal behind a defence marshalled by Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez as Argentina chased another historic night on the biggest stage in world football.