Messi Welcomed Like a King in New York Before World Cup Final

Lionel Messi walked onto a stage in New York City, and the whole room went wild. It happened at a big sports fan event called Fanatics Fest, held just before the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. Messi's team, Argentina, was getting ready to face Spain in the championship game in the United States. The event showed just how much fans around the world love the 39-year-old soccer star.

The press conference before the final was not a normal one. Famous athletes like tennis star Novak Djokovic, football legend Tom Brady, and basketball star Kevin Durant took turns asking questions. Comedian Kevin Hart and former soccer player Rio Ferdinand hosted the event together. It was loud, exciting, and packed with star power.

When Messi stepped onto the stage, the crowd went into a frenzy. Fans drowned out Djokovic's first question by chanting 'MESSI! MESSI!' over and over. People stood on their seats trying to get a look at the soccer legend. Messi smiled, waved, and seemed calm — as if this kind of attention was just a normal Tuesday for him.

One fun topic at the event was a famous baby photo. Years ago, Messi had taken a picture with Spain's young star Lamine Yamal when Yamal was just a baby. Now, both players were competing in the same World Cup final. 'I took a picture with him when he was a baby ... the fact that we're both playing in the World Cup now is crazy,' Messi said.

Messi had kind words for the 19-year-old Spanish star. 'He is one of the best players in the world right now so I wish him the best,' Messi said. 'He has the opportunity to make history, but we are also going to give it our best.' Spain's captain Rodri also praised Messi, calling him the greatest player of all time. Even so, Rodri reminded everyone that Argentina is a strong team beyond just Messi.

The two teams had taken very different paths to the final. Argentina played in exciting, close games with late heroics to win. Spain was steady and clinical, winning games in a calm and controlled way. No matter how you looked at it, this World Cup had been all about Messi — and everyone else was playing in his shadow.

The fan event also showed something interesting about sports in America. At Fanatics Fest, fans could pay extra money to get photos and autographs from famous athletes. Soccer players like Antoine Griezmann and Kaká were available, along with a surprising star — Vozinha, the goalkeeper for the small island nation of Cabo Verde. Few people had heard of Vozinha before the tournament, but his amazing performances made him famous fast, and a selfie with him cost about $114.

However, soccer players were not the most expensive option at the event. New York Knicks basketball captain Jalen Brunson, fresh off winning the NBA championship, had the highest price tag of all. A photo with Brunson cost a whopping $937 — nearly double the price of the next most popular athletes. This showed that in the United States, soccer still has a long way to go before it matches the country's most popular sports.

Leaders in American soccer know there is work to do. Tim Ream, the captain of the U.S. men's soccer team, said the World Cup is a big chance to grow the sport. Don Garber, the head of Major League Soccer, said the game needs to connect with young fans. 'Let's not make this a rock concert tour. Let's make this a great legacy for the future of soccer in America,' he said.