Argentina Name 3 Lineup Changes for World Cup Final vs Spain
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- Argentina made three changes to their starting lineup for the World Cup final against Spain: Rodrigo De Paul, Nico González, and Gonzalo Montiel replace Giuliano Simeone, Leandro Paredes, and Nahuel Molina, who all started the semifinal win over England.
- Lionel Scaloni's adjusted XI keeps nine of the same starters from the 2022 final — Montiel, who scored the winning penalty against France four years ago, replaces the retired Ángel Di María as the only outfield change from that squad.
- Lionel Messi will become the first man to start three World Cup finals, leading Argentina's attack in the 2026 showdown at MetLife Stadium.
- Argentina reached the final by beating England 2-1 in Atlanta (goals from Lautaro Martínez and Enzo Fernández), after previously eliminating Switzerland, Egypt, and Cabo Verde in the knockout rounds.
- Spain coach Luis de la Fuente made no changes, repeating the exact XI from the 2-0 semifinal win over France — with Fabián Ruiz again starting in place of Barcelona's Pedri.
- The 2026 final is the first World Cup final contested by the reigning champions of Europe and South America, and marks Messi's first international meeting with Spain's Lamine Yamal.
- Spain are playing in just their second World Cup final and first since winning the trophy in 2010, having beaten Austria, Portugal, Belgium, and France in the knockout rounds.
Why it matters: Montiel's inclusion is the headline tactical call — the defender buried the winning penalty in the 2022 final against France, and his return adds a tested big-game nerve to Scaloni's spine. The matchup also carries historical novelty as the first World Cup final between reigning European and South American champions, while Messi's third final start extends an already unmatched tournament legacy.
