Lionel Messi Responds to Novak Djokovic’s “Pressure” Question Ahead of the 2026 World Cup Final

Lionel Messi and Argentina will take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday (July 19).

Lionel Messi Responds to Novak Djokovic’s “Pressure” Question Ahead of the 2026 World Cup Final

Novak Djokovic and Lionel Messi (via X/Tiempo de Tennis)

Football star Lionel Messi and Novak Djokovic had an intense and interesting conversation about dealing with pressure. The World Cup Winner and 24-time Grand Slam champion were at a special Fanatics Fest event in Manhattan, New York, sharing the stage with sporting greats such as Tom Brady and Kevin Durant.

Messi has led the Argentine team to its third World Cup final in twelve years, and he’s seeking to win his second FIFA World Cup title for his country. Argentina will face Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup against European champions Spain in New York on Sunday (July 19). With just a matter of hours before the highly anticipated clash, there is significant media attention.

The final match is regarded as an historic one, as Messi will face the country where he first earned fame and became known as one of the greatest footballers in history. During the Fanatics Fest, Djokovic asked the 39-year-old how he deals with pressure on the football pitch. Messi replied that he doesn’t think about the pressure in the game; rather, he treats it as something natural:

We started playing football with great passion and a constant desire to play and enjoy it, no matter the place; whether at school, in the street, or with one of the neighborhood teams, just as we all started when we were young. We never thought about pressure; instead, we treated it as something natural. We played to enjoy and compete, because we are a group that loves to win, but at the same time we realize that the opponent is also playing, and that winning is not always guaranteed.

Messi’s response totally sums up Argentina’s mentality at the FIFA World Cup. The defending champion had to stage comebacks in their semi-final clash against England and in the round of 16 against Egypt. Against England (the Three Lions), they were down 0-1 after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute.

But then Messi inspired Argentina’s comeback by assisting Enzo Fernandez for the equalizer in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez in the second minute of stoppage time. Argentina claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory to seal their place in the final. Against Egypt in the round of 16, they were 0-2 down after 67 minutes.

The Argentine team looked flat and lost until Messi rose up to the occasion, assisting Cristian Romero for his goal in the 79th minute before making it 2-2 in the 83rd minute with a left-foot volley. Enzo Fernandez then headed the winner in the third minute of stoppage time, sealing the victory for Argentina 3-2 against Egypt.

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Novak Djokovic looks forward to competing at this year’s US Open

Novak Djokovic failed to win his 25th Grand Slam at the Wimbledon Championships last week. The Serbian legend did well to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, but he couldn’t get past Jannik Sinner. Sinner, who eventually defeated Alexander Zverev to win the championship, defeated Djokovic in straight sets on Center Court.

Novak Djokovic Wimbledon 2026
Novak Djokovic (image via X/Novak Djokovic)

With the conclusion of the grass-court season, attention has shifted to the North American hard-court swing. Several tournaments will be held in the United States and Canada. The biggest of those events is the US Open. In an interview with Gayle King, he admitted that he hopes to play at the US Open and looks forward to the energy from the crowd:

The US Open is probably the most entertaining and exciting Grand Slam. It’s played in the biggest stadium in our sport, and I can’t wait to get back. One of the main reasons I continue to compete is the energy of the crowd. The affection, respect, and recognition I’ve received, especially in recent years, from all over the world mean so much to me. I can’t thank them enough.

Djokovic will face another tough challenge at the US Open as he’s unlikely to play a warm-up tournament before the Grand Slam event. The 39-year-old has played just five tournaments this season, which is the least by any player in the top 10. He last won the US Open in 2023 after defeating Daniil Medvedev.

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