Ahead of Sunday's monumental FIFA World Cup final against Spain, Argentine captain Lionel Messi has assured fans that the reigning champions will leave absolutely everything on the pitch to retain their global crown.

“We will give it our all,” Messi promised on Friday during what is projected to be his final open press appearance before the ultimate showdown takes place in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The comments were delivered at the Fanatics Fest in New York, a star-studded sports gathering where the football icon shared the stage with an elite group of athletes, including NFL icon Tom Brady, tennis legend Novak Djokovic and NBA standout Kevin Durant.

In a departure from typical pre-match protocols, FIFA opted to stage its official pre-final media event at this four-day festival rather than holding a standard press conference, giving hundreds of spectators a rare opportunity to see the final contestants up close.

The immense footprint Messi leaves on the game was acknowledged by his upcoming opponent, Spain captain Rodri, who openly lauded the talisman.

“It goes beyond words what Messi means as a player and what he means for Argentina,” Rodri remarked. “For me, he's the greatest of all time.”

Instead of the usual media questions, the panel dialogue was steered by the attending sports icons.

Brady questioned Messi regarding a widely shared throwback photograph that captures him bathing an infant who eventually blossomed into Spain’s rising star winger, Lamine Yamal.

In response, Messi smiled and noted, “What a crazy picture.”

Meanwhile, Djokovic sought insight from Messi and manager Lionel Scaloni on managing intense tournament pressure, while Durant questioned goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez regarding the magnitude of securing successive World Cup trophies.

For his part, Scaloni attempted to dial down the surrounding hype to focus purely on the task at hand. “It's one more game,” the tactician observed. “We cannot really think about the fact that it's a World Cup final.”

Argentina heads into the championship match boasting a flawless 7-0-0 record, standing alone as the tournament's sole undefeated side. Spain holds a 6-0-1 record, having dropped points only in an opening-round stalemate against Cape Verde.

Dhaka's sports enthusiasts and global viewers alike have witnessed a grueling path for La Albiceleste.

Argentina had to orchestrate a dramatic second-half comeback to eliminate England in the semifinals after falling behind 1-0.

They similarly overturned a 2-0 second-half deficit against Egypt in the Round of 16, following exhausting extra-time encounters against Cape Verde in the Round of 32 and Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

Reflecting on this arduous journey, Messi stated, “I've said many times: We never stop fighting.”

The legendary playmaker was greeted by an ecstatic crowd at the convention, with countless fans raising their smartphones to record his entrance as roars echoed through the venue.

The presentation wrapped up with a massive group selfie featuring the players, coaches, and notable pop-culture figures such as actor Kevin Hart, musical artist Travis Scott, former England international Rio Ferdinand, and Fanatics chief executive Michael Rubin.

Looking forward to the grand finale, Scaloni concluded, “Sunday is going to be a great show.”

Should Argentina triumph, they will achieve a historic feat not accomplished since Brazil's back-to-back triumphs in 1958 and 1962.

Expressing the squad's collective hunger to honor their fanbase, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez underscored their dedication.

“We've got a group of players and coaches working incredibly hard every day to bring happiness to our country,” Martinez stated.

“We're going to give absolutely our best, with Leo and this team, to bring the World Cup back to our country and celebrate with our people.”

Source: AP