THE TAKE
Argentina will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup because while Lamine Yamal might be good this game, their opponent's best player is literally the greatest player in the history of this tournament
BOLDNESS
28/100
GRADE
5/100
PLAYERS / TEAMS
ArgentinaLamine YamalLionel Messi
GRADING CRITERIA
Argentina wins the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final (2027-01-25 or earlier if they don't reach the final)
recency biasplayer comparisonlegacy assumption
OUTCOME
CONFIRMED FALSESpain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on July 19, 2026, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute. Argentina, and therefore Messi, did not win the tournament — Spain claimed their second World Cup title. Nick Wright's prediction that Argentina would win because of Messi's World Cup legacy was definitively wrong.