STORY: FIFA's decision to introduce a public Q&A session with captains and managers two days before the World Cup final proved a hit with attendees despite the occasional hiccup.

Lionel Messi was of course the star of the show on Friday (July 17) and was joined on stage by his manager Lionel Scaloni and team-mate Emiliano Martinez, while Spain were represented by captain Rodri and coach Luis de la Fuente.

That wasn't all the sporting talent on show though, as questions were posed by Novak Djokovic, Tom Brady and Kevin Durant, while Rio Ferdinand and Kevin Hart were hosts.

There was the occasional boo and shouts of 'sit down' when views were obscured by people standing up to film on their phones, but the 30 minute show went down well those who attended.

The event was held at the Fanatics Fest in New York, which bills itself as the world's number one fan festival.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. LIONEL MESSI WALKING ON STAGE / PEOPLE FILMING

2. MESSI SHAKING HANDS WITH RIO FERDINAND

3. MESSI ON BIG SCREEN

4. NOVAK DJOKOVIC WALKING ON STAGE

5. VARIOUS PEOPLE FILMING

6. MESSI ON STAGE WITH TOM BRADY

7. PEOPLE WAVING ARGENTINA FLAG, MESSI GIVING THUMBS UP AND WAVING

8. MESSI ON STAGE WITH COACH LIONEL SCALONI AND GOALKEEPER EMILIANO MARTINEZ

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) Q&A SESSION ATTENDEE WHO DIDN'T GIVE NAME SAYING:

"Having that line up of everyone there was beautiful. No, nothing better than that. I got a picture of that, all those legends."

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) Q&A SESSION ATTENDEE WHO DIDN'T GIVE NAME SAYING:

"It was a little bit strange to have this many people with that type of press conference, but it was a different press conference. Not your typical sports world conference."

11. SPAIN COACH LUIS DE LA FUENTE ON STAGE WITH RODRI

12. MESSI ON STAGE

13. PEOPLE FILMING

14. VARIOUS OF EVENT IN PROGRESS

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) Q&A SESSION ATTENDEE PEDRO VERA, SAYING:

"It was pretty good. It was nice to see them in person, get the kind of let them both talk. And we got some surprise guests and everyone, like some of the other GOATs from different sports. So that was really cool to see. I wish it was a little bit more organized with the line, because everyone kind of just barged in. If you came in last second, you were like the first one sitting down. So that was a little bit unorganized. But it was still a fun experience to see."

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) Q&A SESSION ATTENDEE WHO DIDN'T GIVE NAME SAYING:

"Yeah, it was really good experience. I have a ticket for Sunday to watch. But I heard this is a like a big screen here, so I'm looking forward to it. You know."

17. SPAIN FLAG BEING WAVED ON STAGE

18. ALL PARTICIPANTS ON STAGE TAKE SELFIE

19. SCALONI / DE LA FUENTE HUGGING

20. CLOSE OF SCALONI / DE LA FUENTE