Messi aims to accomplish in New York what Maradona couldn't 36 years ago

It is also the first time since Diego Maradona inspired Argentina to back-to-back World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990 that the country has reached consecutive title matches. Argentina won the World Cup in 1986 before finishing runners-up in 1990. Their seven final appearances have come in 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990, 2014, 2022 and 2026.