Lionel Messi's Argentina have made three changes to their starting lineup for the World Cup final against Spain. Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the shootout in the 2022 final win against France, comes in at right-back in place of Nahuel Molina. The other changes see Rodrigo De Paul return in midfield, where Nico Gonzalez also starts, with Leandro Paredes and Giuliano Simeone making way. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has named the same lineup that started the 2-0 semi-final victory against France.
Argentina reached the final by defeating England 2-1 in Wednesday's semi-final in Atlanta following a dramatic late comeback. Messi, 39, is appearing in his third World Cup final and starts the day on eight goals at the tournament, two behind France's Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot. The Argentina skipper has scored 21 goals overall at World Cups, one behind Mbappe's record of 22.
Spain's Lamine Yamal, who can become the third-youngest player ever to win a World Cup, just six days after his 19th birthday, starts on the right wing for the defending European champions. Spain are aiming to win a second World Cup after their previous triumph in 2010. If Argentina win it will be their fourth title, which would put them level with Germany and Italy and one behind record five-time champions Brazil.
The final match-up features two teams with rich football histories. Argentina, led by the legendary Messi, have a storied past in the World Cup, having won the tournament twice before in 1978 and 1986. Spain, on the other hand, brought a new style of play to the global stage with their 2010 victory, characterized by their possession-based approach.
As the teams prepare for the ultimate showdown, fans around the world are eagerly anticipating a thrilling encounter. The clash between Messi's Argentina and Spain's youthful talent promises to deliver an unforgettable finale to the 2026 World Cup.
