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US President Donald Trump has backed Argentina to win Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain, saying it is “hard to bet against Messi”. Trump, who is due to present the World Cup trophy to the winners after the match, shared his prediction during an interview with Fox Sports before kick-off.

Asked which team he expected to win, the President said he had anticipated the question and had given it considerable thought.

After praising Argentine President Javier Milei, whom he described as “a friend of mine” who has done “a terrific job”, Trump said Argentina’s chances rested largely on Lionel Messi. “I watched that pass… I guess you’d call it a pass… that was perfect,” Trump said, referring to Messi’s decisive assist in Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory over England.

“If you had a strike zone, it was exactly where it had to be. I watched also just before that, the way he got away from the defender. He was very well defended, and then all of a sudden he was standing by himself… It’s hard to bet against Messi, he’s great.”

Trump declined to say whether Messi was the greatest footballer of all time, citing his admiration for both the Argentine captain and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as memories of watching Brazil legend Pelé play for the New York Cosmos.

“I got to see Pele play, and he was great,” Trump said. “Look, these are great players, and there are others. Look at France, he had a rough game the other day, but he’s [Mbappe] certainly one of the greats. I get this information from my son. My son Barron is a tremendous soccer fan.”

He added: “You have some other really incredible players playing here, but I would say right now, when you look, I’ve always liked Ronaldo and I’ve always liked Messi. I met Messi just recently, and I have known Cristiano, and they have a pretty good life. I think they have a pretty good life, actually, much easier than my life! I’d like to switch for about a month or so.”

The President also said he hoped the United States would host another World Cup in the future and suggested FIFA should announce future tournaments in pairs.

“I had a great idea for Gianni,” he said, referring to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“I said: ‘You have to do two countries. So announce us for next time, and then announce another country after that and it’ll take out some of the anger and the shock!’

“Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately. I said, to take out the shock, you could announce another country for the next one… but we have to do this again. You hear that, Gianni?”

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