It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: The final is here. After 102 games, we’re down to just two of the 48 teams left standing, and we’re only days away from the moment everyone was dreaming of when the first ball was kicked. We’ve got one heck of a storyline coming into this one, with the defending champs looking to retain their title and elevate their talisman’s legacy even higher, while an extremely talented Spanish side looks to once again show the world that their style of soccer is unmatched. 

It’s Messi vs. new-age Tiki-Taka. It’s passion with purpose vs. purpose with passion.

It’s everything you could ask for from a World Cup final, and it’s this Sunday. Let’s get ready for this. 

History

These teams have met a total of 14 times, and wouldn’t you know, their all-time record is dead even: six wins apiece and a pair of draws. It doesn’t get much closer than that. Both nations have lifted the World Cup trophy, with La Albiceleste holding it high in 1978, 1986, and again four years ago in 2022. La Furia Roja, on the other hand, has “only” conquered the tournament once, taking the cake in the 2010 tournament in South Africa. 

Both nations have had success in their continental competitions, with each side coming into this final as reigning champions (Copa América and the European Championships, respectively). Argentina has claimed continental dominance a record 16 times, while Spain has topped Europe a record four times. They’re arguably the two best teams from the two historically best soccer continents. All things considered, this might be one of the most storied finals of all time, and it’s a rubber match. Hot dog, my friends. Hot dog.

Argentina

An easy route? Help from VAR? I’m no conspiracy theorist — I leave that to Reddit. But I’m also a man that appreciates looking at the facts with an honest eye. Let’s lay out Argentina’s path to this weekend’s final: a group with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, who are ranked 29, 23, and 73 in the world, respectively. Then, a knockout path that included Cabo Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland, ranked 64, 24, and 14. Their biggest challenge was undoubtedly the semifinal matchup against England, the fourth-ranked team in the world. 

It’s not the rankings of their opponents that matter here. Sure, it’s interesting to see the route laid out like that, but the rankings are literally made-up metrics, anyway. It’s the way Argentina has navigated this tournament that stands out. 

Regardless of the calls made on the field — or the calls not made on the field — this team has risen to every challenge with an almost inevitable, unstoppable desire. You could say that Messi and company struggled against “inferior” opponents if you subscribe to that tired narrative. Or, you could say that they showed the kind of perseverance and never-say-die attitude that all winning teams need to have. Two extra-time victories and two late game-winners to complete comebacks. It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff, and as frustrating as it is to be on the losing side of it, you can’t help but admire the spirit of this Argentina side.

They could have easily rested on their laurels as defending champs, become the losing side in an all-time underdog triumph against Cabo Verde or Egypt, and probably left the tournament without much of a dent in their legacy. But they kept finding ways to light a fire in every match, and though their tactical acumen is by no means poor, it’s their technical excellence and vigor that have gotten them this far. Like it or not, this team deserves to be here.

Spain

On the other side of the coin, we have La Roja. For my money, they’re the absolute best team in the world, playing the style of soccer that dances in my head when I go to sleep every night. It’s not the high-octane Tiki-Taka that tore teams apart in 2010, but an evolution of the Spanish identity — more controlled, more patient, and so ridiculously smooth. 

Their route to the final was slightly more challenging than Argentina’s, but as I alluded to before, that’s a perception based on history. They won their group with Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde, and Uruguay without conceding a single goal, then proceeded to thrash Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32. They outlasted Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal side in the Round of 16, conceded their first (and only) goal of the tournament in their 2-1 victory over Belgium, and made a massive statement by silencing a French team that had been electric all tournament long in the semifinals. From the very beginning, it’s been a joy to watch them. 

While they have capable defenders, it’s not their ability to defend that makes Spain so hard to score against. I know that sounds crazy, but stay with me. When the game is in the balance, the Spaniards want the ball, and they want the opponent to press them. As soon as the pressure comes, they simply play out of it, showing youth teams across the world why passing is so freaking cool. They made France look silly with that second goal. I thought I was watching Switzerland for a second; that’s how many holes they created in the French defense.

Pass and move. Read the game. Play at your pace. It’s dominant, it’s beautiful, I love it, and I think I might have become Spanish at some point during this tournament. Probably the Round of 16, for no particular reason. 

Prediction

I’ve waxed lyrical quite enough; it’s time to get to brass tacks. In a matchup that pits one of the world’s most satisfying soccer styles against one of the most resilient, exciting stories the sport has ever seen, it’s hard to pick a winner. That’s why they pay me the big bucks, though. 

Like millions — maybe billions — of people around the globe, I’ve long been a fan of Lionel Messi. Watching him lift the 2022 World Cup trophy made me smile, and I will never be upset to see him succeed on the world’s stage. That said, my brain very much sees the game like our friends from Spain, and I am utterly enchanted by the way they move around the field. I wanted England to win it all for personal reasons, but getting to watch this final is a consolation prize I’ll take in a heartbeat.

I have two thoughts: If Spain scores an early goal, I think it galvanizes yet another late surge from Argentina, with the defending champs retaining their title in dramatic fashion. If it stays 0-0 into the second half, I think Spain adds a second star above their crest after yet another calm, controlled performance. 

That’s it. I’m done. 

Gotcha! I don’t hedge bets. Argentina is winning this game. It’s destiny, clearly. There’s something about that mentality mixed with their quality that feels untouchable to me. Put me down for 3-2 Argentina, and feel free to be impressed when my prediction becomes reality.