Argentine star Lionel Messi revealed details of his preparations for the 2026 World Cup, confirming that he worked for a whole year to arrive at the tournament in the best possible condition.
Following the victory over England in the semi-final, the captain of the Argentine national team stated, in remarks reported by the Argentine newspaper "Olé", that he had developed a special plan to prepare for the World Cup, and that he would do everything he could to perform at his best and enjoy participating in the tournament.
Messi added: "I was spending December in Argentina, training morning and evening. I knew I would do my best to arrive at the tournament in great physical condition, and to enjoy playing. I had to feel my best, and I prepared well."
The 39-year-old star stressed that Argentina's reaching the World Cup final for the second time in a row is an exceptional achievement, noting that the entire Argentine team and fans had been waiting for this success.
Argentina secured their place in the 2026 World Cup final after defeating England 2-1 in the semi-final, with Messi providing two assists, while Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scored Argentina's goals.
