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Spain and Argentina met in the final of the 2026 World Cup, football's biggest international tournament, held this year in the United States. Argentina had gone into the match hoping to win an eighth world title and give their captain, Lionel Messi, one of the sport's greatest ever players, a landmark victory before the likely end of his international career. Spain, who won the World Cup once before in 2010, were looking to add a second title.

The match followed weeks of games watched by a global television audience, and the final itself was preceded by a high-profile ceremony featuring performers and celebrities. Beyond the sport itself, the game carried extra weight because of Messi's involvement, given his stature in football and speculation over whether this tournament marked his last realistic shot at World Cup glory.