VirginBet are offering the best odds of 17/10 (3.70) on Lionel Messi to score in the World Cup final, and new customers can back it with a Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets welcome offer.
Argentina face Spain on Sunday at New York/New Jersey Stadium, and there’s no bigger stage for the 39-year-old to sign off on. Below is why the price appeals, and exactly how to claim the free bets to go with it.
🟢 VirginBet Sign-Up Offer — Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply and deposit exclusions apply. Max Free Bet up to £10. Existing Members: Free Bet value shown on log-in. 1st cash bet placed in 48hrs of selected race (main market, ex antepost & specials). Win part e/w bet. Free Bet: use in 7 days on sports. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+
Lionel Messi has been the creator-in-chief of Argentina’s run to the final rather than the finisher — he laid on both goals in the dramatic 2-1 semi-final comeback against England. He is the joint top scorer at the World Cup with 8 goals so far.
But a World Cup final is the stage Messi lives for. He is Argentina’s captain, the tournament’s standout playmaker, and the man his team looks to when the moment is biggest. Argentina are the defending champions chasing back-to-back titles, and if there’s one game to expect Messi to get on the scoresheet himself rather than tee up a team-mate, it’s this one. At 17/10, you don’t need him to be Argentina’s main goal threat — you just need him to find the net once across 90-plus minutes in the biggest match of all.
Where to Find the Best Odds
We’ve compared the market, and VirginBet are top-priced at 17/10 (3.70) for Messi to score anytime in the final — ahead of the rest of the field at the time of writing. Odds move quickly in the build-up to a final, so it’s worth getting on early if you fancy it.
Deposit and place a £10 qualifying bet — you could put it straight on Messi to score
Once your qualifying bet settles, receive £30 in free bets
Full terms are on our VirginBet sign-up offer page — check the minimum odds and expiry before you bet.
The World Cup Final: Argentina vs Spain
Argentina meet Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday at New York/New Jersey Stadium — the reigning South American champions against the champions of Europe. Argentina have ridden their luck and their talisman to get here; Spain, led by teenage star Lamine Yamal, arrive off a commanding semi-final win over France. It’s a heavyweight final, and Messi’s involvement — one way or another — is likely to decide it.
If you fancy Messi to cap his World Cup with a goal in the final, VirginBet’s 17/10 is the best price available, and new customers can claim £30 in free bets to go alongside it. Get on early — final-day markets shorten fast.
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply and deposit exclusions apply. Max Free Bet up to £10. Existing Members: Free Bet value shown on log-in. 1st cash bet placed in 48hrs of selected race (main market, ex antepost & specials). Win part e/w bet. Free Bet: use in 7 days on sports. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers.
Bet £10 get £30 in Free BetsNew members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply and deposit exclusions apply. Max Free Bet up to £10. Existing Members: Free Bet value shown on log-in. 1st cash bet placed in 48hrs of selected race (main market, ex antepost & specials). Win part e/w bet. Free Bet: use in 7 days on sports. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+
