Trump Predicts 2026 World Cup Winner and Names Top Three Footballers in History

Hours before the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, President Donald Trump revealed his prediction for the tournament's winner. The final is scheduled for Sunday evening, marking the conclusion of the World Cup hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams for the first time.

Trump is expected to attend the final match of the 2026 World Cup on the event's last day. Speaking to Fox Sports, he expressed his views on which team might claim the title, stating, "I won’t side with one team over the other, but it’s very hard to bet against Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina," clearly indicating his expectation that Argentina will emerge victorious.

In addition to his prediction, Trump named the top three football players he has witnessed and considers the greatest in the sport's history. He affirmed that Lionel Messi is undoubtedly a great player, alongside Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he also described as great.

Messi, who has been playing in the American league with Inter Miami since the summer of 2023, received special recognition from the White House earlier this year following the team’s local league championship, a customary honor for title-winning teams.

Trump also mentioned having watched the Brazilian legend Pelé during his time with the New York Cosmos, describing Pelé as an exceptional player. He concluded by referencing other notable players, including a French player who, despite not performing at his best recently, has been a leading scorer in the current World Cup with 10 goals, likely alluding to Kylian Mbappé.