Sunday’s World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina is basically a dream matchup for anyone who loves football. Two of the most tactically fascinating teams on the planet, both playing a style that’s hard to replicate. So let’s do what every fan at a bar has already done a dozen times this week: build the best possible starting 11 from both rosters.
We’re rolling with a 4-3-3 here. One goalkeeper, two center backs, two fullbacks, a defensive midfielder, two central midfielders, and three forwards. No tiebreakers based on sentiment. Just who gives you the best chance to win one game.
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)
This one will start arguments. Unai Simon just won the Euros and holds the longest clean sheet streak in World Cup history. But here’s the thing: this is a World Cup Final. The moment is massive, and Martinez has proven he’s built for those moments. He’s got a World Cup win on his resume. A Copa America. Even a Europa League trophy with Villa. He saves penalties for a living and gets inside shooters’ heads before they even step up.
Simon is a fine keeper and nobody would blame you for picking him. But he’s also made some genuinely baffling decisions about leaving his line during knockout matches this tournament. Nobody’s punished him yet. Argentina might.
Center Backs: Aymeric Laporte (Spain), Cristian Romero (Argentina)
Laporte is steady in a way that doesn’t get highlight reels but wins trophies. He’s never flashy. Just reads the game, stays in position, and cleans up messes. Born in France but chose Spain and it’s worked out well for everyone involved.
The other spot was tougher. Pau Cubarsi is 19 and already playing like a veteran. The Barcelona kid looks like he’ll be the next Ramos or Puyol. But for this specific lineup, Romero’s aggression and ball-playing ability edge him out. He takes risks, sure. But with Laporte covering behind him, those gambles pay off more often than they backfire.
Fullbacks: Marc Cucurella (Spain), Pedro Porro (Spain)
Easiest decisions on the board. Cucurella is arguably the best fullback in the world right now — his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid says everything. Porro at Tottenham is just a complete player who defends well and adds real attacking value. Nothing against Tagliafico, Medina, or Molina. They’re solid. But Cucurella and Porro are on another level.
Defensive Midfielder: Rodri (Spain)
With respect to Leandro Paredes, this isn’t close. When Rodri is healthy, he’s the best midfielder on the planet. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has dealt with injuries the last two seasons, but he’s fit now and a major reason Spain is in this final. He can sit deep, dictate tempo, crash the box, or drop into the backline. There aren’t many players in history who can do what he does. There are zero in this World Cup.
Central Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)
Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz have been excellent for Spain. But Mac Allister and Fernandez are the pick here. Both are playmakers who can also shoot from distance with serious power. They draw defenders out of position and open up space for everyone else — especially the guy wearing No. 10.
Wings: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Yes, Messi plays mostly on the right. But at 39, he’s basically positionless. He drifts, he finds pockets, he makes everything happen. He should be in every combined XI until he retires. Yamal turned 19 last week and hasn’t put up Messi’s numbers this tournament, but his pace terrifies defenders. Just ask France’s Lucas Digne about what happens when Yamal gets on the outside.
Striker: Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain)
Neither team has a classic No. 9. Julian Alvarez is probably the closest thing, but he hasn’t been the clinical finisher Argentina needs this tournament. Oyarzabal, meanwhile, came in with questions and answered them — five goals in this World Cup, most on his squad. If we were picking a full 26-man roster, Mikel Merino would be the supersub off the bench. He’s saved Spain twice in this tournament doing exactly that.
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