Spain and Argentina collide in Sunday’s World Cup final. 39-year-old Lionel Messi is hoping to go back-to-back, but teenager Lamine Yamal has other ideas.
Spain vs Argentina World Cup final preview
Sunday’s showpiece will be the first time the reigning European champions have met the Copa América holders in a World Cup final. Luis de la Fuente’s Spanish side has been excellent all tournament. They’ve conceded just once and have yet to fall behind in a match. Strangely, they opened the tournament with a 0-0 draw against surprise package Cabo Verde, which raised doubts over their title credentials in 2026. However, they’ve responded emphatically with six wins since, disposing of Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France in the knockouts.
Defending champions Argentina have lived on their nerves. Tending to do it the hard way, La Albiceleste have needed extra time or to come from behind after the 75th minute in all four knockout games. They’ve bagged eight goals from the 85th minute onwards in this tournament – a World Cup record. They’ll be appearing in their seventh final, only Germany has appeared in more (eight) and third in the last four editions.
Spain is rightly tipped as slight favourites, but how can anyone dare to bet against Mr Messi, especially after his late salvo and pair of assists against England in the semis?
Messi meets Yamal
Two players with strong ties to FC Barcelona will dazzle the planet during Sunday’s World Cup final. 39-year-old Lionel Messi scored 672 times in 778 appearances for Barca between 2005 and 2021. 19-year-old Lamine Yamal is the current wearer of the fabled number 10 jersey at the Catalan giants and Spain’s talisman. Messi will be winning his 207th cap. The Inter Miami man comes into the showpiece occasion as the World Cup’s all-time top scorer (21) and assister (12). Incredibly, those assists have been for 11 different players. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez is the only player to have been assisted twice by the great man.