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NEW YORK — The sports world’s biggest names converged at Fanatics Fest on Friday evening, with Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, and Kevin Durant all seeking time with Lionel Messi before the night ended. The gathering underscored the Argentine soccer star’s singular magnetism across global athletics, as champions from other disciplines gravitated toward opportunities to pose alongside him.
An estimated 1.5 billion viewers are projected to tune in Sunday when Argentina faces Spain in the championship match. Messi pledged his team’s complete dedication to the contest, telling the crowd: “We will give it our all.”
FIFA selected the four-day New York celebration as the site for its pre-final media activities, offering hundreds of spectators rare access to Messi in an informal setting. The championship game will be held Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Spain’s Rodri offered effusive praise for the Argentine captain’s tournament impact. “What Messi represents as both a player and person for Argentina transcends description,” Rodri said. “In my view, he stands as the greatest player ever.”
The event abandoned traditional press conference formats, with celebrity athletes conducting interviews instead of journalists. Brady asked Messi about a viral photograph of him with a young boy, later identified as Spain’s Lamine Yamal, prompting a lighthearted response from the soccer legend.
Djokovic questioned Argentina’s coaching staff about managing pressure, while Durant inquired about goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s experience winning consecutive World Cups. Both teams participated in discussions centered on maintaining focus in high-stakes matches.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni contextualized the occasion, saying: “It’s simply another match. We cannot allow ourselves to become overwhelmed by the reality that this is a World Cup final.”
Argentina reached this stage undefeated with seven wins, though the defending champions required multiple comebacks in knockout rounds. They overcame a halftime deficit against England and rallied from two goals down against Egypt in the Round of 16, with Cape Verde and Switzerland forcing overtime in earlier contests. Spain compiled six victories with one draw against Cape Verde across seven matches.
“Our resolve never wavers,” Messi declared during the event.
When Messi took the stage, attendees prioritized recording video over applause, a gesture he acknowledged with gestures and smiles. As the evening concluded, players, coaches, entertainer Kevin Hart, musician Travis Scott, former footballer Rio Ferdinand, and Fanatics chief Michael Rubin gathered for photographs with Messi while fans documented the moments.
No team has repeated as World Cup champion since Brazil’s back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1962. For Messi, achieving this milestone would further solidify his status as soccer’s most transformative player. Goalkeeper Martinez emphasized the squad’s determination, stating: “We have assembled a team of players and coaches dedicated to working tirelessly each day to bring joy to our nation.”
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