Messi’s Argentina faces Spain in World Cup Final
Sports analyst Dan Dakich previews the FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain, highlighting Lionel Messi’s leadership. Dakich predicts Argentina will win, praising Messi’s consistent greatness. The discussion then shifts to WNBA star Caitlin Clark, whom NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called a ‘political football’ amid physical play controversies. Dakich attributes some issues to WNBA players’ jealousy and envy.
Caitlin Clark has officially picked a side in Sunday’s World Cup final. And the United States’ exit in the Round of 16 apparently did not kill her interest in the tournament.
Clark is riding with Argentina.
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Following the Indiana Fever’s 108-88 win over the New York Liberty on Saturday night, Clark was asked whether she would be rooting for Argentina or Spain when the two countries meet for the World Cup final Sunday afternoon.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
“I’m cheering for Argentina,” Clark said. “I want Messi, so I’ll be cheering hard.”
Argentina is attempting to become just the third nation to win back-to-back men’s World Cups, while Lionel Messi is seeking his second consecutive title at 39 years old.
Lionel Messi (10) of Argentina celebrates with teammates after the 3-2 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
And Clark’s interest in the final goes beyond simply jumping on the Messi bandwagon.
Long before she became a basketball superstar, the Fever guard was also an accomplished soccer player. Clark played during her freshman and sophomore years of high school, scoring 26 goals and earning first-team all-state honors during her first season.
HOW TO WATCH ARGENTINA VS. SPAIN: LIVE STREAM THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL MATCH
“I loved soccer growing up, and I probably could have played in college, too, but it was hard in the state of Iowa,” Clark said last month on the “Post Moves” podcast with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston.
“Soccer was during the spring, and so was AAU basketball. I was leaving for some USA Basketball stuff, and would miss part of the high school soccer season. Then I’d came back and I felt like a bad teammate, so I eventually gave it up after my sophomore year. But I loved it.”
Seems like she made a good choice.
But Clark said the skills she developed on the soccer field still helped shape the basketball superstar she became.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever reacts during the second quarter against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Colin Hubbard/Getty Images)
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“The best thing it did for me was obviously foot speed, but also reading angles. That’s what soccer is — getting your body in the correct angle, leading people on passing, putting the ball on the perfect spot where they can run onto,” Clark said.
“That helped me as a passer, understanding angles and leading people, manipulating where I want them to go. And it helped me get in incredible shape for basketball.”
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Clark will be parked in front of a TV watching the World Cup final on Sunday afternoon. But she’ll return to her primary sport Wednesday night when the Fever host the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
