Argentina and Spain have progressed through the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in different manners.
Lionel Scaloni’s free-scoring side have been driven by the enduring creative magic of Lionel Messi, while Luis de la Fuente’s Spain have proven to be restrictive, counter-pressing kings.
Ahead of the New York New Jersey decider, Tobin Heath and Gilberto Silva – members of FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG) – have run the rule over the two teams.
Both have won the game’s highest honours, with Heath a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and Gilberto Silva part of the last Brazil side to taste global glory, at Korea/Japan 2002.
Speaking on a video produced by the FIFA Training Centre, former Seleção stalwart Gilberto Silva was gushing in his praise of Spain’s patented pass-and-move wizardry on the ball.
“In possession, Spain are very patient and precise… with an ability to create and be patient. They don’t rush at all to go forward and they keep the wide players moving from one side to another.
“That means they can stretch the opposition fullbacks to open a channel in the middle for the attacking players to attack this space. Then again, from one side to another until they find the moment [to go towards goal].
“This is the way how they play, the way they want to make their game flow during every opportunity they have.”
Spain have also proven to be exceptional out of possession. Having conceded just a single goal across their seven matches, they are dominating the Defensive category in the FIFA Power Rankings, powered by Aramco, and have also caught the eye of Gilberto Silva, one of the finest defensive midfielders of his generation.
“Without possession, Spain have been great, they have been outstanding on the counter-pressing. When they lose the ball, immediately one, two, three players run after it and the opponents find it very difficult to progress.
“They put pressure on immediately when they lost the ball and it’s the sense of urgency to get the ball back, to control it, that is something outstanding for them.
“In terms of ball recovery time, they are one of the best teams in the tournament, which shows, once again, how important it is for them to recover the ball fast to get possession again, and that explains why they have conceded so few goals in this competition."
By contrast, Argentina have very much been built around ensuring Messi’s mercurial talents can be given the stage to shine, according to Heath.
“One thing in particular that Argentina love to do is overloading both central and wide areas. And you can see just the amount of attention and focus that happens around Messi. When Messi is drawing five players, other players have to be free but this Argentinian team relies heavily on him for creating chances and scoring goals.
“As much as we've seen many highlight reels on Messi, this World Cup could just be the best. He is showing it all off in the variety of ways that he is scoring. From shots outside the box, to being the first one to rebound shots, to drawing in numbers, to finishing in front of defenders, to finishing off of crosses.
“We've seen the iconic ways that Messi has scored over and over again, yet there is no solution for defenders. If you give him space anywhere, he will exploit it and take advantage of it and score goals and create goals for his team.”
Across a glittering career, Heath played both centrally and in advanced, wider, areas and in Argentina she can see a team that is constructed to allow Messi to flourish, even at 39 years of age.
“Argentina attack in more than one way. Committing numbers to the inside channels or overloading one side to draw the opposition in before switching to the other side. And through all of it, one aim: to get Messi on the ball.
“We can get a picture of how Argentina defends with a player like Messi. He stays high, able to rest, able to be an outlet. But the thing is that once they get Messi the ball… they are able to fully commit to the attack.
“Knowing that Messi has so much security on the ball, drawing the attention and the focus of so many defenders and always being able to find the open player to create an opportunity for this team.
“This is a team that can go from defending to attacking very quickly with a player like Messi. Argentina do like to play in a low block. But you can see just how far away Messi is disconnected from that low block in order to turn their defence into attack very quickly.
“Then you have Messi's ability to be able to control the situation, knowing very well that he's going to get across the pitch, being patient. That threat only works if Messi's fresh to provide it. Out of possession, Argentina take the defensive load off him, letting him stay high while the team wins the ball back.”
Then from there one of the game’s greatest ever players has shown, once again, throughout this tournament just how lethal he is in front of goal.
Things are perfectly set up then for a decisive clash between the magic of Messi and Spain’s counter-pressing control.
Courtesy: FIFA
