Footballing giants Argentina and Spain are clashing in a blockbuster World Cup final, as Lionel Messi graces this stage for perhaps the final time.
All-time great Messi, 39, will look to lead Argentina – who broke English hearts by coming from behind to win their semi-final – to a second straight World Cup trophy and the nation’s fourth overall, after triumphs in 1978, 1986 and 2022.
But they face formidable foes in the reigning European champions: Spain, who are seeking their second-ever world championship, having previously lifted the trophy in 2010. La Roja were superb as they downed France with a clinical 2-0 win in the last four and also have 19-year-old star Lamine Yamal in their ranks, a winger who can change any game in an instant.
Follow live updates from the World Cup final, below:
40 mins: At long last, a yellow card!
Lisandro Martinez chops down Oyarzabal from behind as Spain look to break on the counter, and duly ends up in the book.
He can have no complaints.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:48
Spain 0-0 Argentina
39 mins: SAVE! Emi Martinez is called into action!
Oyarzabal receives the ball on the edge of the area and hits it true, but the Aston Villa stopper gets down quickly to save.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:47
Spain 0-0 Argentina
37 mins: Cucurella tries to trick his way past Montiel down the wing after his now-former Chelsea colleague Fernandez is robbed of the ball – but Montiel stays with him and puts in a hair-raising sliding challenge to send Cucurella and his frizzy lid flying through the air.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:45
Spain 0-0 Argentina
35 mins: Cucurella is slipped into space down the left before trying to get a low cross in, only for his ball to be intercepted.
The flag then goes up, but replays show he was onside. A chance to make a chance, which we haven’t had many of today.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:42
Spain 0-0 Argentina
34 mins: Argentina win a free-kick inside the Spain half, and that gets the fans in blue and white into voice.
Messi stands over it… but it’s taken short, passed around a bit, then he’s dispossessed without getting the ball near the box.
That about sums up this game so far.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:40
Spain 0-0 Argentina
30 mins: Spain are showing some jitters at the back.
First Cubarsi, now Porro, who from a Spain throw whips a ball into his own area that, if you’d briefly looked away from the screen, looks like it must have been from an Argentinian boot.
Cucurella comes across and heads into the grateful hands of Unai Simon.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:37
Spain 0-0 Argentina
29 mins: We’re back underway… and immediately teenage defender Pau Cubarsi has a very nervy moment.
His pass back to Unai Simon is weak and almost gets nicked by the chasing Alvarez.
Deep breaths, Pau.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:35
‘Hopefully the penultimate hydration break… ever’
Here’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
Hopefully the penultimate hydration break any of us will have to endure. Except, at least, for the times when the weather is genuinely hot, which it isn’t really today.
Richard Jolly at New York Stadium19 July 2026 20:34
Spain 0-0 Argentina
25 mins: And with that, it’s hydration break time.
The penultimate break of this sort of the tournament. We were only just getting to know you…
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:31
Spain 0-0 Argentina
24 mins: Another Spain corner… straight into the gloves of Emi Martinez.
Will Castle19 July 2026 20:30
