Lionel Messi Holds Impressive Record Against Spain Ahead of 2026 World Cup Final

As the 2026 World Cup final approaches, Lionel Messi prepares to face Spain, the nation where he spent much of his career and achieved some of his greatest moments. Following Argentina's semifinal victory that secured their second consecutive World Cup final appearance, Messi acknowledged his familiarity with the Spanish team, stating, "Spain is a team I know well."

Messi's record against Spain is remarkable, having scored 62 goals in 81 matches against players from La Roja. Defender Aymeric Laporte, who will start in the final, has faced Messi 15 times and conceded 11 goals. Goalkeeper Unai Simón has played seven matches against Messi, allowing five goals. Marc Cucurella, who has encountered Messi five times, has conceded five goals, highlighting a challenging matchup if Messi shifts to the right wing as in previous games.

Other notable Spanish players with difficult records against Messi include Pedro Porro, who conceded three goals in two matches, and Iñigo Iglesias, who faced Messi four times and allowed five goals. Messi also boasts strong statistics against Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, and Mikel Oyarzabal, scoring 22 goals in 31 matches against them combined.

However, several members of Spain's squad, including David Raya, Marc Roca, Eric Garcia, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Juan Garcia, Alex Baena, Nico Williams, Lamin Yamal, Pedri, Víctor Muñoz, and Pau Cubarsí, have never played against Messi in official matches. This final presents a unique challenge for both Messi and the Spanish team as they prepare for the decisive clash in the global football spotlight.