‘Perfect ending’: FIFA president calls Messi vs. Yamal World Cup final a ‘blessing from the football gods’ Football News
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina as a “blessing from the Gods of football” and said it was a perfect ending to what he considers the greatest World Cup in history.Exclusive statement Interview with Marca Infantino said on the eve of the final at New York’s New Jersey Stadium that football’s world could not have hoped for such a spectacle, with reigning world champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, taking on Spain, led by teenage star Lamine Yamal.For Infantino, this game means more than just a trophy battle. In his view, it was a meeting between football’s greatest icon and the player many believed would define the next generation of the game.
“Blessings from the Gods of Football”
Infantino made no secret of his excitement as he looked ahead to Sunday’s game.“This final is a blessing from the god of football” Infantino told Marca.He pointed to the unique storyline surrounding Messi and Yamal as one of the iconic images of this World Cup.“We have Messi, Lamine Yamar and many other outstanding players. It’s incredible.”
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates at the end of the World Cup semifinal match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The FIFA president believes the finalists have fully earned their spot after what he described as extraordinarily difficult negotiations for the tournament.“They are the two best teams. They deserve this final and they played very well.”“It’s not easy to get here. There are 48 teams, incredible competition and a very challenging World Cup.” Infantino added, reflecting on the expansion to 48 teams.
Messi and Yamal take center stage on football’s biggest stage
While acknowledging that the two teams are evenly matched, Infantino has repeatedly returned to the symbolic image of Messi facing Yamal.The 39-year-old Argentina captain is preparing for the final World Cup game of his extraordinary career. Standing on the other side of the midfield line is 19-year-old Yamal, who is widely regarded as one of the brightest young stars in football.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) celebrates the end of Spain’s World Cup quarterfinal football match against Belgium in Inglewood, California, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
For Infantino, the contrast captured the occasion perfectly.“There’s Messi, there’s Lamine Yamar, there’s so many other great football players. But then there’s that picture. It’s incredible.”It is believed to be a reference to a now-viral photo from 2007 of 20-year-old Lionel Messi bathing 5-month-old Lamine Yamal in a plastic bathtub at Camp Nou. The moment was captured during a charity calendar photo shoot organized by FC Barcelona and UNICEF and resurfaced in 2024, attracting widespread global attention as Yamal’s fame grew.
In September 2007, 20-year-old soccer star Lionel Messi was giving Lamine Yamal, then just six months old, a bath in the dressing room of the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
He believes the rivalry transcended football itself, bringing two generations together in a defining moment.
“The world will stop”
Infantino expects Sunday’s final to attract a large global audience.“It’s going to be like fireworks. It’s going to be incredible. The world is going to stop.”“Three billion people will watch how this World Cup ends.” he added.The FIFA president also praised the atmosphere throughout the tournament, saying the scale of the event exceeded even his own expectations.“I imagined it would be big, but not like this. There’s not this scale, there’s not this atmosphere, this kind of celebration, this kind of energy.”Infantino said supporters from around the world had turned the game into a global celebration.“There is a feeling of happiness all over the world. Of course you feel sad when you lose, but people come from all over the world to celebrate football.”
Why Infantino thinks this is the greatest World Cup ever
When asked to evaluate this tournament, Infantino did not hesitate.“The World Cup is absolutely spectacular, unique and incredible.”He continued:“The best players, the best team, the people, the stadium was packed and it was a total celebration.”For the FIFA president, this World Cup was everything the governing body had hoped for while also laying the groundwork for future tournaments.“The whole world stopped and watched. It’s the best in history, past and present, and it prepares us for the future.”He also highlighted what he described as the peaceful atmosphere created throughout the month-long tournament.“We didn’t have any incidents. People came from all over the world and everyone was celebrating football.”Infantino concluded by praising traditional football powers and emerging countries for their contributions to this event.“All the champions took part, but there were also new teams and new countries. We saw stories that only football can write and become legends.”Before ending the interview, he repeated his assessment in unmistakable terms.“This is the best World Cup in history.”
The game was not without controversy
Despite Infantino’s high ratings, the 2026 World Cup has also been accompanied by some high-profile controversies.FIFA has been criticized for some of its refereeing decisions during the World Cup, particularly in games involving defending champions Argentina. While FIFA’s refereeing department and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni have always rejected suggestions of favoritism and defended the integrity of the game, the controversial VAR call and refereeing decision has sparked the term “VARgentina” to go viral on social media.Infantino has also faced scrutiny over FIFA’s relationship with US President Donald Trump after FIFA’s governing body overturned a ban on US forward Folarin Balogun following Trump’s public intervention. Human rights group FairSquare subsequently lodged a complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s ethics committee, accusing it of violating political neutrality, while UEFA and the Belgian Football Association also criticized the decision.
President Donald Trump speaks during a reception at Trump Tower in New York, Friday, July 17, 2026, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino listens. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Separately, FIFA is also reviewing a disciplinary report after Argentinian players displayed a “Argentinian Sons of Las Malvinas” banner after the semi-final victory over England. FIFA has confirmed that its independent disciplinary committee is reviewing the relevant match reports before deciding whether to take further action under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.However, none of these issues changed Infantino’s view of the tournament.The World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain will be held on Monday, July 20, 2026 at 12:30 AM (IST) at the New York-New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Infantino remains convinced the tournament has reached its perfect ending, with the sport’s greatest champion sharing the stage for the last time with the player many believe will define the future of the World Cup.
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