Xavi Hails Messi as Barcelona's Legacy Shapes World Cup Final

Xavi and Mascherano hail Messi as Barcelona's legacy shapes World Cup final.

What happened?

On Sunday, the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will be contested under national flags, but Barcelona icons Xavi Hernandez and Javier Mascherano see the unmistakable imprint of their former club all over the showpiece. From Spain's crop of La Masia graduates to Lionel Messi, the academy's greatest success story, who continues to decide matches at 39, Barcelona's influence runs through both finalists.

Why it matters for Xavi

Xavi was the heartbeat of the Spain team whose tiki-taka possession style delivered the nation's first World Cup title in South Africa in 2010. He spoke to Reuters in front of a giant LEGO World Cup trophy replica at New York's Rockefeller Center, reflecting on a final rich in personal connections and the enduring legacy of the club that shaped him.

What comes next?

Xavi said watching Lamine and Cubarsi develop into World Cup finalists had been especially satisfying after seeing their confidence firsthand as teenagers. "I feel, of course, very proud because I saw them when they were 15, Lamine; 16, Pau Cubarsi," Xavi said. "They had the character and the passion. I remember them telling me, 'Don't worry, coach, I'm ready. No worries,' because I was a bit afraid that at 15 or 16, maybe they weren't ready and would feel the pressure. Absolutely not."

Messi's incredible form

Mascherano said nothing Messi does should surprise anyone anymore, except, of course, that it still does. "He is a special one, you know? You cannot compare (him) with anyone. He's different, totally different," the 42-year-old Mascherano said. "Every time we see him, it's a surprise because he's doing so many things that we will never, ever see from another player. So I think it will be difficult to find a player like him in the future. I think it's impossible."

Barcelona's influence

Xavi said Barcelona's footballing philosophy runs through both finalists, even if Mascherano was quick to point out Argentina do not have many current Barcelona players. "We have to be proud of this philosophy, this idea," Xavi said. "It's one idea, and it is still alive. We are in the final with this system, even Argentina."

The final verdict

Mascherano went further, saying Messi still appeared to hold the remote control to football's grandest stage. "I think he is still showing that he is the owner of the game," he said. "He has the ball, and he makes the decisions. Sometimes he decides that he is going to win the game, and he can do that."

category: club_news