Kevin Hart co-hosts as Durant asks Martinez about Cup final
At Fanatics Fest 2026 in New York, Kevin Hart co-hosted a star-studded World Cup preview where NBA star Kevin Durant asked Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez what Sunday's final against Spain meant to him, moments that also featured Lionel Messi, Tom Brady and a viral stage selfie.
Key Takeaways
- Kevin Hart co-hosted the Fanatics Fest stage event in New York with former England star Rio Ferdinand.
- Kevin Durant was among celebrities who quizzed Spanish and Argentine World Cup representatives, including Emiliano Martínez.
- FOX Sports shared a clip of Durant asking Martínez what Sunday's final meant to him.
- Durant also snapped a viral selfie with Messi, Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, Martínez and others on stage.
- Argentina faced Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET.
What did Kevin Durant ask Emi Martínez?
According to FOX Sports, NBA superstar Kevin Durant asked Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano "Emi" Martínez what Sunday's World Cup final meant to him.
The exchange surfaced in a Fanatics-shared vertical clip covering the New York fan convention. Durant was one of several big-name athletes taking turns putting questions to Spanish and Argentine representatives ahead of the decider.
ABC News reported that the on-stage guests for those questions included Spain captain Rodri, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Martínez, with Messi drawing the loudest reaction when he appeared.
The clip itself, posted via Fanatics and amplified by FOX Sports, framed the Durant-Martínez exchange as a light, cross-sport moment rather than a deep tactical interview. That tone fit the Fanatics Fest format: big names, big crowd energy, and questions designed for social clips.
Where does Kevin Hart fit into the Fanatics Fest moment?
Comedian Kevin Hart co-hosted the flashy Fanatics Fest session alongside Rio Ferdinand, ABC reported from New York. The setup mixed softball celebrity questions with World Cup final buzz rather than a standard press-room briefing.
Bleacher Report noted that Hart also appeared in the viral group selfie Durant took on stage. That photo bundled Messi with Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, Rio Ferdinand, Rodri, Emiliano Martínez, Travis Scott and Hart—an unlikely crossover snapshot of sport and entertainment.
Fanatics Fest ran Thursday through Sunday at the Javits Center in Manhattan, placing the Q&A and selfie frenzy in the middle of World Cup final week in the New York area. Messi's Argentina side had arrived Thursday night in New Jersey ahead of the Spain showdown.
Hart's presence helped bridge comedy and sport for a U.S. audience that already treats Super Bowl winners and NBA stars as household names. Pairing him with Ferdinand as co-host kept the stage loud and accessible while still centering World Cup principals.
Why did this celebrity World Cup crossover go viral?
The timing mattered. Messi and Argentina were preparing for Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET, and the Fanatics stage turned a routine pre-match media window into a celebrity circus.
ABC described Messi commanding the room as fans chanted his name, while Brady, Djokovic and Durant took turns asking questions. The Durant-to-Martínez prompt about what the final meant to him distilled that star-power energy into one shareable beat.
For readers chasing more oddball sports-and-celebrity mashups, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage.
In short, Kevin Hart's co-host turn and Durant's pointed final question to Martínez captured how 2026 World Cup final week spilled beyond football—and into viral sports entertainment that American fans instantly recognized.