Spain will carry a remarkable momentum into Sunday’s World Cup final, having not lost a single match in normal or extra time across their last 37 outings. But standing between them and a second star on their shirt are an Argentina side on an impressive streak of their own – unbeaten in 14 games and determined to secure a famous title defence.
A Record-Equalling Streak
The numbers behind Spain’s run are staggering. According to Opta, the 37-game unbeaten sequence equals the best ever recorded by a European team – matching Italy’s stretch under Roberto Mancini between October 2018 and September 2021, which included winning Euro 2020. Spain’s run started after a defeat in 2024 and has featured a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals of this tournament.
However, it is worth noting that Spain have not been completely infallible. They lost the 2025 Nations League final to Portugal on penalties, a result that officially goes down as a draw in the record books but still stung. La Roja have blended youthful exuberance with tactical maturity under Luis de la Fuente, who has consistently found the right formula to extend this historic run.
Argentina’s Resilience
While Spain’s streak has dominated headlines, Argentina are no slouches. The reigning world champions have quietly built a 14-match unbeaten run of their own, showing the blend of grit and genius that has defined the Lionel Scaloni era. With Lionel Messi still pulling the strings in what could be his final World Cup appearance, Argentina will back themselves to shatter Spain’s air of invincibility.
Scaloni’s side have grown into the tournament, and the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium presents the ultimate stage for a clash of two in-form giants. While Spain aim to match Italy’s record outright by avoiding defeat in 90 or 120 minutes, Argentina want to prove that their own unbeaten streak is a truer measure of a champion.
Ballon d’Or Implications
Beyond the team glory, Sunday’s final could prove decisive for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The race is wide open, with no single clear favourite emerging from the club season. Lamine Yamal hopes to claim the prize for the first time, while Messi is chasing an unprecedented ninth award. A dominant performance or a decisive goal on the biggest stage could tip the scales.
Spain midfielder Rodri is also firmly in the conversation. After some early tournament criticism, he has returned to his dominant best. De la Fuente rallied behind him following the group stage opener, saying:
“It seems incredibly insulting to me that people would say that about the best player in the world. Even at 50%, Rodri is better than most other midfielders. He brings clarity, vision, balance.”
With the world watching, the latest chapter in the storied history of the World Cup final promises to be a meeting of two seemingly unstoppable forces. Spain’s record run will either be cemented or broken, and the Ballon d’Or debate settled for good.