Mohamed Aboutrika, the legend of the Egyptian national team and Al Ahly, made explosive remarks about Argentina's first magician Lionel Messi ahead of the match against Spain, Sunday evening, in the 2026 World Cup final.

Messi has shown amazing performances during the current edition of the World Cup, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists, including two against England in the semi-final.

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Aboutrika said in remarks on Qatar's beIN Sports network before the match: "I think Spain will face Messi, because the Argentine star is primarily responsible for the tango's arrival to the 2026 World Cup final."

He added: "The Argentine national team appears ordinary without Messi; he is the one who always makes the difference, and he has shown a level that does not reflect his age at all. How can he make all these contributions at the age of 39?"

He continued: "Messi looks like he is in his early twenties, and what he has achieved is not only due to talent, but to commitment and hard work over 20 years."

He concluded: "Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or two times in a row, because of the enjoyment and excitement he provides; he is the best in history for me."