Argentina vs Spain prediction: Will Lionel Messi lift a second successive World Cup trophy?
Argentina vs Spain is the final match of the 2026 World Cup, to decide who will lift the sport’s most sought-after prize.
Will it be Lionel Messi and his fellow Argentinians? Will they enjoy a second successive lift, after the trophy evaded him for much of his career?
Or will it be Spain, in potentially record-breaking fashion with the least goals ever conceded, which their previous Champion 2010 side already hold, en-route to a World Cup victory?
Argentina vs Spain: Will Lionel Messi lift a second successive World Cup trophy?
When we say that Argentina vs Spain isn’t the final that was necessarily predicted, that goes beyond pre-tournament expectations.
Across North America, these sides – particularly Argentina – have looked unconvincing in moments, yet have time and time again risen to the occasion, and upped their level, when required.
Against France, Luis de la Fuente’s men entered the clash as underdogs, then delivered a dominant, well-drilled performance for the ages while creating a plethora of chances for themselves.
Against Egypt in the round of 16, Argentina were incredibly lucky to not exit the tournament, after surviving a scare versus Cape Verde prior to the match.
That pattern followed against Switzerland and England, with the latter being favoured to win: taking it to extra-time against the Swiss and coming back from the dead again versus the Three Lions.
On paper, Spain have the superior team. On the evidence of the knockout rounds, Argentina may have the greater mentality.
It would be unwise to suggest there isn’t as much pressure riding on the Argentinians: their beloved captain Messi, whose sword the side lives and dies by, is almost certainly playing his last World Cup.
As a result, future iterations of this Argentina squad will be devoid of their central figure, and how long will it be before they can compete for football’s greatest prize again?
On the other hand, Spain’s star man; well, not so much this tournament, has almost his entire career ahead of him.
After coming into the tournament still recovering from injury Lamine Yamal has been in unconvincing form for his high standards at the 2026 World Cup, but, unlike Messi, he should represent his nation at many more to come.
However, Spain haven’t won the competition for 16 years after a series of deeply disappointing attempts to recapture the spark of their brilliant side of the late 2000s and early 2010s.
As the defending holders, Argentina have already proved their worth in making it back to this event, so the Spaniards have more to lose should they fail to turn up this evening.
Spain’s defence is scarily strong, limiting what appeared to be the best offensive force in the tournament to nothing versus France.
But Argentina’s attack, while not the best at a first glance, is certainly the most unrelenting, and with Messi, a moment from nowhere should be expected, not just possible.
The likes of Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal and Rodri have been in wonderful form, and Yamal is long overdue a defining match.
For the Argentinians, Messi has been Messi, but Enzo Fernandez, Alexis MacAllister and super substitute Lautaro Martinez are all proving to be serious dangers at this tournament.
FourFourTwo thinks that Argentina will ride their luck one final time, but in a similarly high-octane basketball game to the 2022 final.
When Spain’s defence is penetrated, because it will be, we will finally see the attacking potency of their line-up without a lead to defend.
Yamal will spring to life, and while he will fall short of Kylian Mbappe‘s astonishing World Cup final performance last time out, he will prove worthy as successor to the legendary Messi.
PREDICTION: Argentina 2-2 Spain
Argentina win on penalties (5-3)
