Lionel Scaloni has refused to speculate on Lionel Messi's international future ahead of Argentina's World Cup final against Spain. The Argentina boss insisted only the captain knows whether he will continue beyond the tournament as retirement speculation intensifies.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has admitted he faces a deep conflict of loyalties ahead of Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The former midfielder has travelled to New York for the showpiece event, which will prominently feature both Catalan club icon Lionel Messi and a strong contingent of current Blaugrana players.

Lionel Scaloni hailed Lionel Messi as the greatest player in football history after Argentina reached the World Cup final. The Argentina boss urged supporters to cherish the 39-year-old's remarkable career as the reigning world champions prepare to face Spain in Sunday's showpiece.

Lamine Yamal has always looked up to Lionel Messi. The Barcelona legend was - and remains - his one and only idol. "I never had another," Yamal admitted to Tuttosport. "I once took a photo with him. I was unknown." He wasn't just unknown, though; he was still only a baby, just a few weeks old when he and his mother partook in a 2007 photoshoot organised by SPORT for a charity calendar.

NEW YORK -- In a fun meeting between the NFL’s greatest player of all time and arguably soccer’s, Tom Brady asked Lionel Messi about the picture that has followed this World Cup final since the matchup was set: the Argentina icon bathing Lamine Yamal as a baby. Brady described the image as “very prophetic,” with Yamal now playing in his first World Cup and Messi potentially preparing for his last.