Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina will take on Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final, a highly anticipated clash between one of football’s greatest individual talents and the sport’s most dominant team in recent years.
Messi, who rarely finds himself on the losing side, will lead Argentina against a Spain team that has gone unbeaten in 37 consecutive matches since early 2024. The final is expected to provide a fitting conclusion to the biggest World Cup in history.
For Spain, the match offers an opportunity to win a second World Cup title after their 2010 triumph and further establish themselves as the leading force in international football. Argentina, meanwhile, are aiming to become the first men’s team to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil achieved the feat under Pele in 1958 and 1962.
For Messi, the final could represent his last appearance in the national team’s famous blue-and-white jersey, giving him another chance to complete a remarkable international career.
“On Sunday, we will watch a great show,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “Two great national teams — two superteams, in my opinion — very similar in some aspects in terms of attitude and talent. I think it’s going to be an amazing final.”
The contest has often been described as a battle between the world’s best player and the world’s best team, but the storyline goes far beyond that.
Messi’s connection with Spain
The final carries special significance for Messi, who was born in Argentina but spent much of his youth and entire club career in Spain. He could have represented Spain internationally, and Spanish officials attempted several times to convince him to choose their national team. However, Messi remained committed to Argentina.
Sunday’s match will be his first encounter with Spain since a 2010 friendly when Argentina defeated the then-world champions.
Despite the enormous pressure, Messi said he would approach the final in the same way he has always played football — with joy and passion.
“We grew up playing soccer with passion, eager to play,” Messi said. “We played everywhere. We played on the street, at school and with teams. We didn’t think about pressure. It was just natural play.”
The final will also feature a unique connection between Messi and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The two players were photographed together nearly two decades ago when Yamal was an infant, and they will now meet on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni described Messi as “the best footballer that the world has seen,” saying the forward had become a symbol of football history.
Messi’s remarkable comeback with Argentina
A decade ago, Argentina’s current success seemed unlikely. Messi briefly retired from international football in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties, with Messi missing one of the spot kicks.
His retirement lasted only a few weeks, and he returned to continue leading Argentina. Since then, the team has won the Copa America in 2021, the World Cup in 2022 and another Copa America title in 2024.
The 39-year-old forward has also continued to shine at club level, playing for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He remains a key figure in Major League Soccer and is still capable of producing decisive moments.
“He is pure history. History. A legend,” Scaloni said.
Spain chasing defensive record
Spain enter the final as favourites after producing one of the strongest defensive performances in World Cup history. La Roja have conceded only one goal in their first seven matches and have never fallen behind during the tournament.
Argentina, in contrast, have spent more than 100 minutes trailing, including stoppage time.
Only three previous champions — Spain in 2010, Italy in 2006 and France in 1998 — won the World Cup after conceding just two goals throughout the tournament. Spain’s current defensive record puts them on course to match or surpass that achievement.
Spain captain Rodri warned that Argentina are much more than just Messi.
“Argentina is far more than Messi,” Rodri said. “They have proven they are a very complete team with top players. We are the best two teams playing collectively as a group. Of course, we need to be mindful of Leo, but there are many other players.”
The final will be the 104th and last match of a tournament featuring 48 teams across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The World Cup was also marked by controversies, including political tensions surrounding Iran’s participation, criticism over FIFA’s decision to overturn the red-card suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun after intervention from President Donald Trump, and calls from the British government for an investigation into Argentina players’ actions involving the Falkland Islands after their semifinal victory over England.
However, the tournament will ultimately end with the familiar scene of one team celebrating and another suffering heartbreak.
“They have their strengths. So do we,” Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said. “I hope it will be a final that goes down in history.”