Trump Celebrates Football Legends Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, US President Donald Trump lauded football legends Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Harry Kane. He praised Messi's assist in the semifinal against England and critiqued England's tactical decisions. The final will see Argentina face Spain, with Messi leading the Golden Boot race. This highly anticipated match promises to showcase the talents of both teams, making it a must-watch event for football fans.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 18, 2026, 06:56 IST

Trump Applauds Football Icons

In anticipation of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final featuring Spain and Argentina, US President Donald Trump expressed admiration for Lionel Messi's exceptional talent, while also recognizing Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane as outstanding players.

During an event held on Friday, Trump highlighted Messi's near-perfect assist to Enzo Fernandez during the semifinal against England, emphasizing that great athletes possess a unique quality. He also commended Ronaldo's character and skill, and critiqued England's tactical decision to reposition Kane defensively after taking an early lead in their semifinal match against Argentina.

Messi's Remarkable Play

"We have gathered tonight in New York City as we await the final faceoff on Sunday between the two amazing teams, Spain and Argentina. I watched that pass that Messi made. He was well guarded by a great player and then he moved to the right, and the other player was just standing there. He kicked it. It was within, I would say, a quarter of an inch of being perfect. And that was the end of the game. It was brilliant," Trump remarked.

England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, faced criticism for his defensive substitutions, which allowed Argentina to control the game and ultimately led to England conceding two late goals, resulting in a 2-1 defeat.

World Cup Final Showdown

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is set to feature a thrilling matchup between defending champions Argentina and European champions Spain. This highly anticipated event will showcase the talents of Messi against the rising star Lamine Yamal.

Spain secured their spot in the final with a 2-0 victory over France, while Argentina staged a comeback to defeat England 2-1, with a last-minute goal sealing their place in the championship.

Messi enters the final leading the Golden Boot race, having edged out France's Kylian Mbappe after providing two assists in Argentina's semifinal win.