Match Preview: Spain vs Argentina
This is the final the tournament deserved: Spain, owners of the most miserly defense of the competition, against Argentina, its most relentless attack. Spain arrive at MetLife having scored 13 and conceded a single goal across seven games, with six clean sheets and a statement 2-0 dismantling of France in the semi-final. Mikel Oyarzabal leads their scoring on 5, but it is 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, cast as the heir to Messi, whose moments of invention from the right are most likely to prise open a stubborn Argentine block. La Roja chase a first World Cup title since 2010, and their blend of possession control and defensive discipline makes them deserved, if slender, favorites.
Standing in their way is Lionel Messi in his last World Cup, chasing back-to-back titles in Argentina's second successive final. Messi has 8 goals here, more than any player still standing and extending his record all-time tally to 21, and the reigning champions have scored in every match, edging England 2-1 in a tense semi. With Lautaro, Alvarez, Mac Allister and Enzo orbiting Messi, Argentina will not be shut out easily, which is exactly why this feels like a coin flip. Our panel backs Spain 2-1: the tournament's best defense doing just enough against its most dangerous forward, with Yamal announcing himself on the biggest stage. But if Messi conjures one more piece of magic, nobody should be surprised.

