It’s all come down to this. What started more than a month ago with 48 nations has finally reached its crescendo—the World Cup final is here. After surviving the newly expanded group stage and the knockout rounds, not to mention the sweltering heat and humidity of a North American summer, Spain and Argentina will go toe-to-toe to for the right to hoist the Jules Rimet trophy this afternoon at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.
Today, there’s more at stake than just the trophy. Lionel Messi and Argentina
have the chance to make history by becoming only the third nation, after Italy and Brazil, to win back-to-back World Cups. Securing another Jules Rimet would also place Argentina in a three-way tie with Italy and Germany for the second most World Cup titles, behind only five-time champions Brazil.
While that’s all well and good, if Spain wins this afternoon, they’d have a pretty compelling case as the best footballing nation of the 21st century. Consider their achievements over the past quarter-century: the 2010 World Cup, three European Championships (2008, 2012, 2024) and the 2023 UEFA Nations League.
That’s all academic of course, so let’s get onto the match!
