World Cup Final: Spain vs. Argentina official line-ups, Juventus player starts

Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez starts the 2026 World Cup Final with Lionel Messi for Argentina, with Lautaro Martinez and Nico Paz on the bench against Lamine Yamal’s Spain.

It kicks off at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

Argentina are defending the title they won in 2022 in Qatar, although their path to the Final has been scrappy, with a series of comeback and late victories.

Lautaro Martinez was Capocannoniere in Serie A this season with Inter and scored the last-gasp winner against England in the semi-final, but he is once again dropped in favour of Julian Alvarez.

Como star Nico Paz is also on the bench, but the big change is seeing Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez chosen ahead of Giuliano Simeone – brother to Torino striker Giovanni, and born in Italy when his father Diego was at Lazio.

Spain have been getting stronger as the tournament went on, drawing the opener with Cape Verde, needing late goals to get the better of Uruguay, Portugal and Belgium.

They put on a masterclass to sweep favourites France aside 2-0 in the semi-final, and Mikel Oyarzabal has five goals in the World Cup so far.

There were a few concerns over Lamine Yamal’s left thigh, but the Barcelona talent has shaken off the knock to play with Dani Olmo and Alex Baena.

Former Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz is once more picked instead of Pedri.

If Argentina win, they will go level with Italy and Germany by winning the World Cup four times, behind only Brazil with five.

Spain vs. Argentina line-ups

Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal

Argentina: E Martinez; Montiel, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, Nico Gonzalez; Messi, J Alvarez

19-07-2026 20:00

Final

MetLife Stadium

Spain

Argentina

1
0

1 – 0

Player statistic

1st half

41′

Lisandro Martínez

2nd half

		52′		Leandro Paredes
		83′		Enzo Fernández
		90+3′		Enzo Fernández

Extra time

Ferran Torres (Assist: Nico Williams)		106′
		112′		Alexis Mac Allister

Match statistic

65

Possession %

35

20

Total shots

2

12

Shots on target

5

Shots off target

1

3

Blocked shots

1

9

Corners

4

4

Offsides

1

21

Fouls

25

Spain

Argentina

Starting lineups

23

Unai Simón

Goalkeeper

14

Aymeric Laporte

Defender

99′

24

Marc Cucurella

Defender

22

Pau Cubarsí

Defender

12

Pedro Porro

Defender

15

Álex Baena

Midfielder

75′

8

Fabián Ruiz

Midfielder

62′

16

Rodri

Midfielder

99′

10

Dani Olmo

Attacker

75′

19

Lamine Yamal

Attacker

21

Mikel Oyarzabal

Attacker

62′

23

Emiliano Martínez

Goalkeeper

13

Cristian Romero

Defender

71′

4

Gonzalo Montiel

Defender

58′

6

Lisandro Martínez

Defender

44′

3

Nicolás Tagliafico

Defender

20

Alexis Mac Allister

Midfielder

24

Enzo Fernández

Midfielder

7

Rodrigo de Paul

Midfielder

71′

9

Julián Álvarez

Attacker

102′

10

Lionel Messi

Attacker

15

Nico González

Attacker

46′

Substitutes

5

Marcos Llorente

Midfielder

3

Alejandro Grimaldo

Defender

26

Borja Iglesias

Attacker

11

Yéremy Pino

Attacker

9

Gavi

Midfielder

1

David Raya

Goalkeeper

25

Víctor Muñoz

Attacker

13

Joan García

Goalkeeper

2

Marc Pubill

Defender

7

Ferran Torres

Attacker

62′

20

Pedri

Midfielder

62′

6

Mikel Merino

Midfielder

75′

17

Nico Williams

Attacker

75′

4

Eric García

Defender

99′

18

Martín Zubimendi

Midfielder

99′

1

Juan Musso

Goalkeeper

22

Lautaro Martínez

Attacker

11

Giovani Lo Celso

Midfielder

14

Exequiel Palacios

Midfielder

12

Gerónimo Rulli

Goalkeeper

16

Thiago Almada

Midfielder

18

Nico Paz

Midfielder

8

Valentín Barco

Defender

21

José Manuel López

Attacker

2

Marcos Senesi

Defender

102′

19

Nicolás Otamendi

Defender

44′

5

Leandro Paredes

Midfielder

46′

26

Nahuel Molina

Defender

58′

25

Facundo Medina

Defender

71′

17

Giuliano Simeone

Attacker

71′