What is the meaning behind Lionel Messi’s trademark ‘point to the sky’ celebration?

Lionel Messi is on the brink of a second straight World Cup, but he will also have one eye on winning his first Golden Boot.

Messi finally got his hands on the Jules Rimet trophy in 2022 and now he has the chance to make history with another success.

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The Argentina icon has incredibly scored eight goals in seven games so far, also providing four assists, with two against England.

It has him nearing the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball, with him a shoo-in to win it should he outscore Kylian Mbappe, who features in the third place play-off, and lead his nation to glory again.

Should he score in the World Cup final, fans will expect to see the Inter Miami star whip out his trademark celebration.

What is the meaning behind Lionel Messi’s trademark celebration?

It’s not in Messi’s nature to conjure up something as ostentatious as rival Cristiano Ronaldo‘s branded ‘SIU’ jump and pirouette.

But the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has had several celebrations throughout his career – the most common being to point a finger on each hand towards the sky as he walks back to the centre circle.

Messi explained years ago that the gesture was a dedication to his grandmother Celia Olivera Cuccittini, who passed away when he was 11.

He said: “I am doing this because I dedicate my goals to my grandmother. She took to me to football, but now she can’t see how far I have come. Nevertheless, she continues to help me and my family.”

During a separate interview on her role in his career, Messi once said: “I was small, we would all go to the neighbourhood club to where the whole family always went; my brother and cousins would all play, each in their respective category as we were all of different ages.

“I was one of the youngest ones and therefore there were no categories for me yet, but one of them was missing a player and so my grandmother told the manager to ‘let me play,’ to which the manager replied: ‘How can we let him play? He is too small, he cannot play.’

“Despite this, my grandmother still insisted ‘let him play, let him play.’ She was very much loved by everyone at the club and continued to demand I be put in until they did.”

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Spain vs Argentina: talkSPORT coverage

Messi will be hoping to pay tribute to his grandmother yet again this weekend, as Argentina take on Spain for glory in New York.

The World Cup final will take place on Sunday, July 19 at 8pm BST.

talkSPORT will have live commentary of the game from Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Stuart Pearce.

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