The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday holds a special significance for Xavi Hernandez and Javier Mascherano, the Barcelona stars, who see the ghost of their old club everywhere. The Catalan club's influence is evident from the young players who graduated from La Masia to Lionel Messi, the most prominent graduate of Barcelona's academy, who still imposes his strength on matches at the age of 39. Xavi is one of the pillars of the Spanish national team that won the World Cup for the first time in South Africa in 2010 thanks to the 'tiki-taka' style of possession, while Mascherano was Messi's former teammate at Barcelona and Argentina, and his coach at Inter Miami until early this year. Mascherano, 42, explained that nothing Messi does should surprise anyone anymore, adding: 'Messi is an exceptional player, you cannot compare him to anyone else, different from everyone, his vision always surprises because he does many things that no other player would ever do. So, I think in the future it will be difficult to find a player like him, I think it's impossible.' Xavi, who shared years of magic with Messi in Barcelona's midfield, said he watched Argentina's 2-1 win over England with Mascherano and could barely comprehend what he was seeing, saying: 'We were watching the match together, and he said to me: 39 years old, and what is he doing? It's amazing. In my opinion, Messi is the best in history, and he still makes a difference on the pitch. With his ambition and behavior, he is a warrior. He is undoubtedly the best.' Mascherano went further, stating that Messi still seems to be holding a remote control in the biggest football tournament, adding: 'I think he still proves he is the master of the pitch. When the ball is at his feet, he sometimes makes decisions that lead to him winning the match, and he is capable of doing that.' Xavi, 46, expressed his pride in the upcoming final, which features Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, saying: 'I feel of course very proud because I saw Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi when he was sixteen, they had personality and passion. I remember they used to tell me: don't worry coach, I'm ready. Don't worry, because I was a little afraid that they might not be ready at 15 and 16, and that they might feel pressure. But that never happened at all.' Xavi pointed out that Barcelona's football philosophy is embodied in both finalists, even though Mascherano quickly noted that Argentina currently does not have many Barcelona players in its ranks. Spain enters the final with a lineup dominated by Barcelona's influence, including Yamal and Cubarsi, two players Xavi introduced to professional football as teenagers during his tenure as coach. Argentina plays the match led by Messi, who won the World Cup for the first time in 2022, and managed to overcome time, defenders, and odds to reach his second consecutive final.