Lionel Messi live stats today: Updated goals, highlights from Argentina vs. Spain in World Cup final

Lionel Messi live stats today: Updated goals, highlights from Argentina vs. Spain in World Cup final originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Lionel Messi's legacy is safe and secure, but a second World Cup win would serve as an unbelievable way for the Argentine legend to potentially finish his international career.

Messi has defied his age throughout the World Cup, contending for the Golden Boot and assisting on each of Argentina's two goals in a comeback win over England in the semifinal. If he wants to go out on top, he will have to find some of that same magic against a Spanish team that has conceded just one goal in the tournament.

Spain represents a defensive challenge perhaps not seen by Argentina in this World Cup, but nothing so far has been able to pull the focus of Messi and the rest of his teammates off lifting the trophy once again.

If Argentina is going to go back-to-back, Messi is likely going to have something to do with it on Sunday.

The Sporting News is tracking Lionel Messi's live stats and highlights from the World Cup final against Spain. Follow along below for the latest updates.

WORLD CUP FINAL HQ: Live Spain vs. Argentina score | Halftime show updates | Player ratings

Argentina vs. Spain score

2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Updated World Cup bracket

Lionel Messi stats today

• Minutes: 30
• Goals: 0
• Assists: 0
• Shots: 0
• Shots on target: 0
• Touches: 7

Did Lionel Messi score a goal today?

Messi has yet to score as Argentina plays out the first half against Spain.

LIVE:Follow Spain vs. Argentina updates from 2026 World Cup final

Lionel Messi highlights, updates from Argentina vs. Spain in World Cup final

(All times ET)

3:36 p.m. — Argentina's offense has started slowly as it tends to do. Lionel Messi has seven touches on the day. In positive news for Messi's side, though, Spain hasn't put a goal on the board and hasn't come particularly close more than a couple of times through 30 minutes.

3:16 p.m. — It's been a quiet opening 10 minutes for Argentina, with the best chance in this game so far belonging to Spain before Emiliano Martinez came through with a save. Messi has one touch on the day.

2:30 p.m. — After Kylian Mbappe's two goals yesterday, it'll take three goals or two goals and an assist for Messi to win the Golden Boot. That's likely not Messi's concern right now; a world championship would be enough to satisfy him.

2:20 p.m. — Messi is in the building and ready to go ahead of his third World Cup final.

🚨 LEO MESSI HAS ARRIVED! pic.twitter.com/h59eJBhSne

— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) July 19, 2026

MORE LIONEL MESSI NEWS:

• Updated Golden Boot rankings
• Messi and the oldest players to win a World Cup
• Tracking Messi vs. Mbappe all-time World Cup goals race
• Most goals in one World Cup: Where Messi ranks
• How Messi compares to Pele, other greats at age 39

How to watch Lionel Messi in 2026 World Cup final

• TV channel: Fox
• Live stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/website

We've reached the end of Messi's World Cup run and World Cup career one way or another, but you can watch his final game of the tournament on Fox.

Cord-cutters can tune into the game using fubo.

World Cup 2026 remaining schedule

The World Cup is down to just one game, with Argentina facing Spain for the title.

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