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Argentina Vs. Spain Could Be “The Greatest World Cup Final Ever”, Senior NBCUniversal Telemundo Exec Says
Spain squad
- Full squad
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI Midfielder
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
- Full squad
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI Forward
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
A senior NBCUniversal Telemundo executive has predicted that Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain could become "the greatest World Cup final ever" for Spanish-language audiences. Miguel Lorenzo, SVP of Sports Content for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, said the match combines two heavily supported nations, historic rivalry, and star power, including Lionel Messi (39), widely regarded as the greatest player ever, and Spain's rising talent Lamine Yamal, dubbed "the next Messi". He noted it is also the first final to pit the defending World Cup champion against the reigning European champion, both pre-tournament favourites.
The 2026 tournament, expanded and hosted across 16 North American cities in favourable US time zones, has already broken viewership records for both Telemundo and English-language rights holder Fox. Last week's semi-finals drew 9.8 million viewers for Spain-France and 11.4 million for Argentina-England on Telemundo and Peacock, both records for Spanish-language coverage, while Fox's broadcasts hit 11.5 million and 15.1 million respectively. Despite criticism over the semi-finals and Sunday's final being scheduled outside primetime (3pm ET/noon PT), Lorenzo argued strong matchups and flexible viewing options would still drive audiences, with Telemundo planning its most extensive production yet, featuring correspondents reporting from Spain and Argentina alongside coverage from the East Rutherford, New Jersey final venue.
In short
- Telemundo exec calls Sunday's Argentina-Spain final a potential all-time great
- Messi and rising star Lamine Yamal headline record-breaking World Cup coverage
- Semi-finals set Spanish-language viewership records despite non-primetime scheduling
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This final combines several elements that have historically marked the greatest World Cup finals. Argentina and Spain meet as defending world and European champions respectively—a unique pairing—whilst Lionel Messi at 39 plays what may be his final World Cup moment, accompanied by Spain's emerging superstar Lamine Yamal. Both nations bring rich histories, passionate global fanbases, and genuine sporting quality. When compelling storylines align with genuinely competitive teams and legitimate stakes, historical precedent suggests the conditions for a memorable match are present.
The case against
Predictions that a final will be 'greatest ever' before it's played often reflect commercial interests, since quality depends entirely on tactical execution and actual performance—factors no pre-game narrative can guarantee. History shows many highly anticipated finals have disappointed, decided by defensive discipline or fortune rather than brilliant play. An executive whose business interests benefit from broadcast success has inherent reasons to be optimistic, and such assessments conflate compelling narrative with match quality.
Explained simply
The World Cup is international football's principal competition, held every four years, with the final being the sport's most prestigious match. Argentina will face Spain on Sunday in the 2026 final, with Argentina defending their 2022 title and Spain holding the 2024 European Championship. Both are among the world's strongest football nations.
The match features iconic talent and historic rivalry. Argentina has Lionel Messi, a 39-year-old widely regarded as the greatest player ever. Spain has Lamine Yamal, a young rising star who has been compared to Messi at a similar age, and the two nations have a longstanding sporting rivalry.
The 2026 World Cup is being hosted across the United States in sixteen cities, with Spanish-language broadcasts already setting viewership records for earlier matches. This final brings together two major football powers with exceptional talent and a historic rivalry, making it a significant event for global audiences.