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Lionel Messi, the leading scorer in World Cup history, could help Argentina become the third team in history to win back-to-back World Cups with a win over Spain on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI
July 17 (UPI) -- Lionel Messi will attempt to further cement his name among athletic immortals when Argentina battles Spain in Sunday's 2026 World Cup Final.
The top-ranked Argentines will face the No. 2 Spaniards at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. The match will air on Fox.
Seeping storylines feed anticipation for the matchup, which will pit the 39-year-old against Spanish phenom Lamine Yamal, who at 18 is less than half his age.
The former Barcelona star, who continues to thrive despite questions about his looming final chapter, will attempt to keep his voluminous book open for an electric epilogue. With another win, Messi can help Argentina become the third country in history to win consecutive World Cups.
They would be the first team to accomplish the feat in 64 years, when Pele led the Brazilians to the 1962 crown.
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Lionel Messi celebrates after Argentina defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal Wednesday in Atlanta. Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI
Yamal, a star at Messi's former La Liga club, is on a quest to be the new face of the game and to lead the Spaniards to a their second crown. That triumph also would result in a record 38-match unbeaten streak and make Spain the first country in history to win consecutive women's and men's World Cups.
More than 80,000 fans are expected to attend Sunday's finale, including President Donald Trump. The least expensive ticket price on the secondary market as of Friday afternoon was about $8,000.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi, who has not said if this is his final World Cup, has shown emotion throughout the 2026 tournament en route to Sunday's finale. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI
Sunday's forecast calls for temperatures in the mid 80s, with light wind and no rain. Heavy smoke continues to hover in the area from Canadian wildfires, impacting air quality. New Jersey was among about a dozen states under an air quality alert on Thursday.
A source told UPI on Friday that the situation is being monitored, with World Cup event organizers in close coordination with authorities and local agencies. The National Weather Service said smoke could thicken into Saturday morning, but rain is expected to hit the Northeast later in the day, which could improve conditions.
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Spain's Lamine Yamal (L) dribbles against France's Maxence Lacroix during a World Cup semifinal Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI
But whether or not the air clears, fans should be treated to iconic performances atop the pristine grass blades -- which they can purchase -- at New York-New Jersey Stadium.
Spain and France were close favorites to win the World Cup before the tournament. England, Portugal and Brazil also were inside the Top-5 expected contenders, ahead of Argentina.
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Spain goalie Unai Simon (L) secured clean sheets in six of his seven starts at the 2026 World Cup, setting a tournament record. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI
But the Argentines, led by Messi's sorcery, yet again climbed into the finale, largely thanks to several breathtaking rallies.
While tested, Argentina beat just one Top 10 team -- No. 4 England -- at the 2026 World Cup. Spain beat three such foes -- No. 3 France, No. 8 Belgium and No. 7 Portugal -- in a dozen days over their last three appearances.
The Spaniards' suffocating defense surrendered just one goal through their seven tournament matches. Goalie Unai Simon secured a World Cup record six clean sheets from the shutouts.
Messi, who made his World Cup debut before Yamal was born, tied France's Kylian Mbappe with a tournament-best eight goals during Argentina's run. He contributed to -- scored or assisted -- 12 of Argentina's 19 goals.
Fellow forward Lautaro Martinez (three goals) and midfielder Enzo Fernandez (two) are the only other Argentines with multiple scores at the tournament.
Yamal led Spain with 23 shots through the semifinals, but failed to break through with major statistical impact. Sunday's final could set the stage for his global arrival. He totaled just one score, with no assists so far.
Forward Mikel Oyarzabal (five goals), midfielder Mikel Merino (two) and defender Pedro Porro (two) were Spain's top scorers through the semifinals.
A strategical skirmish between the Spaniards' prototypical possession-based plan and Argentina's branded blend of physicality and creativity could result in a tight finale.
Such a plot could lead to legacy fueling moments in the final minutes -- or maybe the elation or heartbreak of extra time or a penalty shootout.
Oddsmakers place the goal total at 2.5, with the Spaniards as a half-goal favorite.
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