Football Bet of the Day: Nicole Scherzinger, Take That’s singer and a Messi zinger

Spain meet Argentina in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It all comes down to this at football’s banner event. Lionel Messi. Lamine Yamal. Nicole Scherzinger. A trio inextricably linked by the fact they will have been breathing the same rarefied New Jersey air at the same exact time. Only icons are allowed to participate in the World Cup final. Icons and Pussycat Dolls. 

Where else could we go for our Football Bet of the Day? Keep reading for a top tip that will hopefully play out while Robbie Williams looks on, having serenaded us with Rock DJ and not one of his songs from that crap swing album he did.

Spain vs Argentina Odds

This World Cup threatened to be a non-event where a certain sect of fan was concerned. Those who have traversed teams and spent inordinate amounts of money on jerseys to follow the careers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The preening pitbull CR7 and the pocket-sized silk-rocket Leo Messi had this almighty sport on strings for nigh-on two decades. But at 41 and 39 respectively, this World Cup was supposed to be about the new breed.

Ronaldo, to his immense credit, got the memo. He managed to tick off a record or two by scoring at a World Cup at his age, but I doubt even he remembers which one. First over-40 to score at a World Cup having played alongside Wes Brown? 

Largely, though, it was agreed by the football populace at large that the ex-Real Madrid tyrant is probably past his best on this lofty stage.

Football Odds

Nobody told Messi though did they?

Here he is in a second consecutive final. Far from a smile-raising, rabble-rousing passenger here for his experience, Messi has dragged his side into this tie. Ask any England fan, who saw their beloved Three Lions undone by a man who made his professional debut in a game involving Henrik Larsson and Ronaldinho.

Messi is not a passenger, even if he still looks like he needs a booster seat to drive. At press time he is neck-and-neck with Kylian Mbappe, 12 years his junior, in the race for the Golden Boot. 

I think Messi adds to his tally here. Spain are systematic, fearsome and well-drilled. But even as he approaches middle-age, Messi remains one of the most astute and innovative improvisational talents in world soccer. I think the Ballon d’Or record-holder has one last flourish on the biggest of stages. Messi to score anytime is Price Boosted from 11/8 to 7/4.