Why were Tom Brady’s kids rooting against Messi in the World Cup final? Gisele Bündchen may be to “blame”

The 2026 World Cup final produced an image that quickly caught people’s attention off the field.

The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain not only pitted two global soccer powerhouses against each other, but also produced a curious scene featuring Tom Brady and his three children: Jack, 18, Benjamin, 16, and Vivian, 13.

While the legendary former quarterback enjoyed the match from the stands, his children drew attention by appearing in Spain jerseys, cheering for Argentina’s rival in the title decider.

Why were Tom Brady’s children rooting for Spain in the World Cup final?

On his official Instagram account, the seven-time Super Bowl champion shared nine photos from his time at the 2026 World Cup alongside his three children and several public figures, including Mattias Grafström, FIFA’s secretary general, and Travis Scott.

“What a finale to one of the greatest month long sporting events we’ve ever seen. So happy to share it with my favorite crew,” he wrote at the start of his post-final reflection.

However, what caught everyone’s attention were the jerseys his kids were wearing in the first photo Brady posted: all three were rooting for Spain.

This detail sparked curiosity among fans, especially since on the other side was Lionel Messi, one of the soccer players Brady has most admired.

One theory about his children’s choice points to the influence of Gisele Bündchen, Brady’s ex-partner and the children’s mother. The Brazilian model grew up amid the historic South American soccer rivalry between Brazil and Argentina, and although the Canarinha was eliminated in the round of 16 by Norway and wasn’t playing in this match, for many Brazilian fans, rooting for La Albiceleste isn’t usually an option.

Meanwhile, while Spain might have been an alternative for Tom and Gisele’s children, during the 2026 World Cup final, Brady maintained a neutral stance by not wearing either the Argentina or Spain jersey.

However, Brady has on several occasions shared his admiration for the Argentine star and his legacy, so the image of his children cheering for La Roja while he watched Leo’s latest battle for world glory sparked even more curiosity.

Although the exact reason why Brady’s children chose to wear Spain’s colors was not confirmed, the influence of their family roots and the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina appear to be a possible explanation.

In the end, Argentina and Spain faced off in a historic World Cup final, with Luis de la Fuente’s team securing a 1-0 victory in extra time, earning their second star and putting an end to Argentina’s dream of a second consecutive title.