Lionel Messi says Argentina have "already written a story that no one can erase" ahead of their World Cup final meeting with Spain.

The reigning champions came from behind to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final, giving them the chance to retain their trophy on Sunday.

Argentina are competing in their seventh World Cup final, with only Germany playing in more (eight). They are three-time winners (1978, 1986, 2022) and three-time runners-up (1930, 1990, 2014).

The Albiceleste have won all seven of their matches at this year's tournament and could be the first team since Brazil in 2002 (won 7/7) to have a 100% winning record in a single edition.

Should they win, eight wins in a row would be the outright second-longest winning run in World Cup history, behind Brazil's 11-game streak between 2002 and 2006.

Messi has been a huge part of Argentina's success at the finals this year and is set to become just the second player in World Cup history to appear in three finals (2014, 2022 and 2026), along with Brazil's Cafu (1994, 1998, 2002).

He scored twice in 2022, and the only players to score in consecutive finals are Vava for Brazil in 1958 and 1962 and Kylian Mbappe for France in 2018 and 2022.

Ahead of the final, Messi posted a photo of the Argentina squad, praising the journey they have been on during the last five weeks.

"The nicest thing about all these years was never just the titles, but all the way," he said in the post.

"Sharing the day-to-day with this group, competing together, getting up in the difficult moments and enjoying every step.

"Thanks to each of my team-mates, the technical staff and all the people who work every day to keep this national team a family.

"Whatever happens, this group has already written a story that we will never forget and that no one can erase."

Messi, who could be making his last appearance at the finals and indeed for Argentina, still has a chance to win the Golden Boot and regain the World Cup all-time scoring record, having been overtaken by Mbappe on Saturday.

The Argentina captain has netted eight times so far in 2026 (also four assists) to the Frenchman's 10, and has 21 in total, one fewer than Mbappe.

This will be only the second meeting between Spain and Argentina in the World Cup, with Argentina winning 2-1 in the group stages in 1966.

This match also marks the first time the reigning Copa America champions have faced the reigning European champions in a World Cup final.