Why Messi’s called Lionel and a fun fact on every player in the World Cup final

The Athletic publishes a feature ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey. The article provides a fun fact about each of the 52 players in both squads. For Spain, highlights include Unai Simon's chess addiction, David Raya's early career at Southport, and Pau Cubarsi's carpentry background. The article is part of a broader World Cup coverage package including third-place match reactions, hydration break debates, and halftime show news.

First published Aug 4, 02:03 PM UTCUpdated Jul 19, 11:00 AM UTC1 reports · 1 sources

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currentJul 19, 11:00 AM UTC

Why Messi’s called Lionel and a fun fact on every player in the World Cup final

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Why Messi’s called Lionel and a fun fact on every player in the World Cup finalSoccer - The AthleticWesternJul 19, 11:00 AM UTC

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Lionel Messi David Raya Spain Argentina The Athletic New Jersey