Trump makes prediction on World Cup winner: ‘It’s hard to bet against Messi’
He said that while he is not picking sides, it was “hard to bet” against Argentinian team captain and superstar Lionel Messi.
Ryan Cooper 
As the world turns its attention to the championship match between Spain and Argentina, President Donald Trump has weighed in with his pick for the ultimate victor.
Trump is slated to attend Sunday’s final, where he will join FIFA president Gianni Infantino on the pitch to present the World Cup trophy. During a pre-match interview with Fox Sports, the President noted that while he is steering clear of picking a formal side, he finds it nearly impossible to bet against Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
Messi’s Unrivaled Impact
"I hate to get involved, even though politically it doesn’t matter so much," Trump remarked. "The head of Argentina is a friend of mine. He’s done a terrific job. But I would say that it’s hard to bet against Messi."
Trump went as far as to compare Messi’s precise playmaking ability to hitting a baseball's "strike zone," calling one of the captain's recent passes "perfect." He reiterated his stance, adding, "It’s hard to bet against him. I won’t pick sides. I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi. He’s great."
A Historic Presence
Trump’s appearance at the match carries historical significance, marking the first time a U.S. president will attend the men’s World Cup final. The United States has previously hosted the tournament only once, back when Bill Clinton was in office.
This high-profile sports appearance follows recent headlines where Trump faced criticism regarding reports that he requested FIFA overturn the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. Although Balogun was ultimately reinstated, the U.S. team was eventually eliminated by Belgium, a loss that sparked considerable social media chatter regarding a perceived "Trump curse."
