2026 World Cup: A Tense Start to Spain vs. Argentina—When Lionel Messi Touched the Ball for the First Time
Spain vs. Argentina, the 2026 World Cup final, got off to a start marked by intense tension on the field due to the extremely high stakes. Apart from a couple of flashes from “La Roja,” the first cooling break midway through the first half came without any real scoring chances at MetLife Stadium. It was also an uninspired start for the highly anticipated Lionel Messi, who didn’t get his first real touch of the ball until the 16th minute—when he was fouled by opponent Alex Baena. The Albiceleste captain tried again in the 21st minute with a through ball to Nico Gonzalez, but the play was called offside.
As for the lineups, Luis de la Fuente stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation that carried Spain all the way through the tournament, with Unai Simon in goal, Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, and Cucurella in defense, Rodri and Fabian Ruiz in midfield, and the trio of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Alex Baena supporting lone striker Oyarzabal. Lionel Scaloni, on the other hand, opted for a 4-4-2 formation that, compared to the semifinal against England, left out Paredes and Giuliano Simeone, relying instead on Nico Gonzalez and Rodrigo De Paul to facilitate ball movement; up front, as is tradition, the Messi-Alvarez duo.
Even before kickoff, the evening had already been full of excitement. The opening ceremony featured Laura Pausini performing alongside Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger to the tune of “Desire,” the official FIFA anthem that blends English and Spanish. The customary official greetings were also in order, with Donald Trump welcoming the Spanish royal couple—King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia—and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The handshake between Trump and Sanchez—two political figures whose relationship is anything but harmonious—was widely photographed, with Gianni Infantino standing in the background. Argentine President Javier Milei, however, was absent: according to live reports from “Rai,” his absence was attributed to mere superstition.
Another new development for this final concerns the presentation of the trophy: it will be Donald Trump, not Infantino, who will present the World Cup to the winners—a decision announced by the FIFA president himself. All of this takes place against a politically charged backdrop, considering that just eleven days ago, during the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump had called Spain “a lost cause” and “a terrible partner in NATO,” going so far as to call for a halt to all trade with the Iberian country. This remark had already sparked mockery from his critics in the United States.
From an Argentine perspective, there is also great anticipation for Julian Alvarez, Messi’s attacking partner, following the Albiceleste’s extraordinary run so far. In the semifinal against England, it was Lautaro Martínez who made his mark with a decisive goal, propelling Argentina to the tournament’s final. The Inter captain, who came off the bench, proved once again to be a big-game player, replicating his performances in the 2023 and 2025 Champions League semifinals. Tonight, however, Scaloni opted for the Messi-Alvarez duo from the start.
In the background, there’s also the race for the top of the scoring charts. Kylian Mbappé, who was eliminated with France in the third-place match lost to England, finished his World Cup with 10 goals, taking the lead in the scoring race with a two-goal advantage over Messi. Before leaving the United States, the Real Madrid star told Fox Sports: “Leo always scores. He’ll definitely score against Spain.” It’s a prediction that Argentina’s No. 10 will be eager to make a reality right from these opening minutes, which have so far been lacking in excitement.
