Spain midfielder Gavi termed Argentina captain Lionel Messi as the numero uno after La Roja beat the 10-man Albiceleste 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday (July 19).
Luis de la Fuente’s side emerged victorious, thanks to a Ferran Torres strike, set up fellow substitute Nico Williams, in the 106th minute against an Albiceleste side that had been reduced to 10 men just before extra time following Enzo Fernandez’s dimissal.
Thanks for the submission!
An inspired Albiceleste custodian Emiliano Martinez saved a record 11 shots on goal before Torres beat him from close range. Mess and Co. tried to mount a belated comeback with three shots on the La Roja goal deep in extra time, but none of them were on target.
Gavi – who was an unused substitute in the final – praised Messi, who endured a quiet outing, managing no goal contribution or touch inside the La Roja box. The Spaniard commented on Messi’s Instagram post (as per Sport Bible):
“Number 1 always.”
While both Gavi, 21, and Messi are products of Barca’s famed La Masia academy, the Spaniard made his first-team debut in August 2021, shortly after the Argentine had joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
What Lionel Messi told his Argentina teammates in dressing room ahead of FIFA World Cup final vs Spain
In a dressing room pep-talk to his Argentina teammates ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain on Sunday in New Jersey, Lionel Messi was seen calming frayed nerves and simply focus on the upcoming game.
As things turned out, though, Messi and Co. underwhelmed in the match that mattered most as a brilliant La Roja team monopolised possession and dictated the flow of the game, eventually finding success with their 12th shot on target in extra time.
“Come on guys, stay calm, everyone,” Messi told his Albiceleste teammates (as per NDTV).
“Let’s stay calm, calm down. Let’s just think about playing, alright? Stay calm. Let’s forget everything, let’s forget everything. Let’s just play, come on, just focus on playing.”
The Albiceleste squad has since returned to their country without Lionel Messi, getting a red-carpet welcome, with the captain set to resume club duties for Inter Miami in MLS.
Messi had a hugely successful campaign, ending with eight goals and four assists in eight games to finish behind Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe.
Edited by Bhargav