Messi Aims for Third Golden Ball as Argentina Faces Spain in World Cup Final
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Preview
File image of Kylian Mbappé (Left) and Leonardo Messi (Photo: @FabrizioRomano/X)
New York, July 19: The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is set to take place between Argentina and Spain in New Jersey, starting early Monday at 12:30 am IST. The focus is heavily on Lionel Messi, who is vying for a record-extending third Golden Ball award, although the Golden Boot seems increasingly out of reach for him.
The 39-year-old captain of Argentina is currently behind France's Kylian Mbappe in the tournament's scoring leaderboard.
Mbappe has surged to the top with 10 goals after netting twice in France's thrilling 6-4 loss to England during the third-place playoff, while Messi remains at eight goals.
Initially, Messi shared the scoring lead with Mbappe after the semifinals, holding an advantage through assists.
However, following Mbappe's recent performance, Messi must score at least two goals in the final to equalize and three to secure the Golden Boot outright.
Despite the challenges in the scoring race, Messi is still a strong contender for the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament's best player.
If he succeeds, he will be the first player to win this accolade three times, having previously achieved it in 2014 and 2022.
Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, praised Messi's lasting impact on the team, stating, "He is the history. He is the legend."
Messi has already led Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final, further enhancing his credentials for the prestigious individual award.
His performances have been pivotal in the defending champions' quest to retain their title.
The Golden Ball is determined by votes from accredited media representatives based on a shortlist created by FIFA's Technical Study Group.
On the other hand, Spain's emerging talents are expected to contend for other significant individual awards.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon is a frontrunner for the Golden Glove, having conceded only one goal in seven matches, while 19-year-old forward Yamine Lamal is a strong candidate for the Best Young Player award after an impressive tournament.
However, the Golden Boot race appears to favor Mbappe, who has become the first player since German legend Gerd Muller in 1970 to score 10 goals in a single World Cup.
Mbappe also won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite France finishing as runners-up to Argentina.
If he retains the award, he will join an elite group of players whose goals in third-place matches were crucial in securing the tournament's top-scorer title.
For Messi, the primary goal remains to lead Argentina to another World Cup victory.
A win against Spain would further solidify his legacy, while a third Golden Ball would add another remarkable achievement to his illustrious career.