Lionel Messi, manager Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez attended a FIFA Fan Fest in New York on July 17 [1].
The appearance comes one day before the 2026 World Cup final scheduled for Sunday. It serves as a primary promotional effort to engage supporters and build momentum before the tournament's deciding match.
Messi arrived at the venue via helicopter [2]. During the event, the Argentine stars discussed the mental approach required for the championship game. They said the importance of maintaining the joy of football and adopting a child-like mindset to handle the immense pressure of the final is key [3].
Entry tickets for the FIFA-organized event were priced at 80 USD [4]. The gathering functioned as a pre-final press conference and fan engagement hub in the city.
Other high-profile figures were present at the event. According to reports from TN, attendees included Rodri, Luis de la Fuente, and Rio Ferdinand [5]. Novak Djokovic also appeared and served as the conductor for the proceedings [5].
Scaloni and Martínez joined Messi in addressing the crowd and the media. They said their collective message focused on the natural instinct of playing the game, mirroring the simplicity of how they played as children [1]. This philosophy is intended to keep the squad relaxed and competitive as they prepare for the final clash.
“The Argentine stars discussed the mental approach required for the championship game.”
The decision to emphasize a 'child-like' approach suggests a strategic effort by the Argentine leadership to mitigate the psychological burden on the players. By focusing on the joy of the sport rather than the stakes of the final, the team aims to avoid the rigidity and anxiety that often plague athletes in high-pressure championship environments.
