Two golden generations may be colliding as Spain face Argentina in World Cup final

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The Independent

19 July 2026

The

World Cup

final hardly needs to be

hyped up to attract interest

, but even for a match of this magnitude there are a

surprising number of storylines

From the race for the Ballon d’Or to the battle between the managers, the spectacle of the differing styles of play or the

scarcely believable backstory between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal

, Sunday’s final is one that promises to live long in the memory.

And as with any final on the world’s biggest stage, it will also define legacies and careers. For 39-year-old

Lionel Messi

, despite everything he’s achieved,

this is a match that will be looked back on in every debate

, every summary of his great career. It is the same for 19-year-old

Lamine Yamal

, no matter what he might go on to achieve.

Indeed, it is the same for every player involved, from the

Argentina

stalwarts or Ballon d’Or winner

Rodri

to the various youngsters and the lesser-hailed members of both squads.

open image in gallery

Yamal is said to have been nursing an injury in the build-up to the final (Getty)

Both Messi and Yamal are particularly pertinent though, and for reasons beyond their roles as

each team’s most important player

. Put simply, each player mirrors the very nature of his national team – as Argentina’s golden era comes to an end, another

Spain

golden generation might just be getting started.

For

and co, Sunday’s match, whether win or lose, brings an end to a near-unprecedented period of success for the

Albiceleste

. Under

Lionel Scaloni

, they have won both the 2021 and 2024 editions of the Copa America, while the victory in the 2022

was originally thought to be the crowning glory of Messi’s career, and indeed many of the others on the pitch on that December evening in Lusail.

That they could yet have a second

to add to this recently bulging trophy cabinet

speaks to the various qualities throughout the team

, from Messi’s obvious brilliance to the tactical acumen of Scaloni and the blend of grit and desire throughout the squad. As shown throughout the competition – most recently in

the dramatic 2-1 comeback over England

– this is a team that does not know when it’s beaten, and has all the tools needed to beat any team in world football.

However, they are not infallible, as they’ve proven in the games against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland.

will head into the game as slight underdogs, perhaps needing a final moment of genius from Messi or something else special from Julian Alvarez or Enzo Fernandez to earn them a fourth star.

Moments of brilliance from Messi and Enzo Fernandez saved

against England (Reuters)

These previous struggles have shown that, despite making another final, this is a team on its last legs. It feels strange to say a team is on a downward trajectory, when they are about to contest a

final, but it has happened before. Contrast France’s 2006 team to the debacle of 2010, for example.

In Argentina’s case, the fall-off could be one of the most pronounced of any international side ever, such is the impossibility of replacing Messi. Other stalwarts, including Rodrigo De Paul, Emi Martinez, Leandro Paredes and Nicolas Tagliafico, will likely have retired from international football by the next

, while even the likes of Lautaro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister and Cristian Romero will be into their 30s. It’s a squad that will look markedly different when they host an opening game in Buenos Aires in June 2030.

Of course, most squads could look very different in four years’ time, though the difference with

is that plenty of the core squad members are still in their teens or early 20s. Yamal, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, Alex Baena, Nico Williams, Gavi and Joan Garcia are all 25 or under, as is the injured Fermin Lopez. Elsewhere, Pedro Porro, Ferran Torres and Martin Zubimendi are others who could expect to be included in 2030.

Several of Spain’s squad will only be in their mid-to-late 20s by the time the next

comes round (Getty)

Naturally, there will be worries about how to replace players such as Rodri and Dani Olmo if they are not present in four years, though these concerns are not for the immediate future with a European Championships next up after Sunday.

Instead, there is much more hope for the future in

, and a desire to enjoy the present as a talented

La Roja

squad stands on the brink of history. After winning Euro 2024, a triumphant

campaign would almost put this side on par with the legendary era of 2008-2012, and there could be a lot more to come yet.

Spain have grown into this tournament in a similar – though perhaps less explosive – manner to how they grew into Euro 2024, and as was the case two years ago, the win over France showed them to be the best footballing team in the competition.

That latest match showed both the managerial talents of Luis de la Fuente and the squad’s ability to put his ideas into practice with devastating effect. The manner of the semi-final victory, from the

way they nullified France to the bravery and expansiveness of their own play

, means that

head to New York as favourites, though it remains a tough game to call.

Nevertheless, on paper this feels very much like one team on the up and another coming down. One at the beginning of its journey, another making its last stand. It could end in crushing defeat or the most inspiring of victories for either side.

With that in mind, the question is surprisingly simple. Can the ageing beast of

land one more blow, one more famous night to launch themselves into the pantheon of greats? Or will a young, bright

team overcome yet another footballing giant, writing themselves into history while consigning their opponents to a lifetime of ‘what ifs’?

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