Credit: Frederic J. BROWN and Thomas COEX / AFP via Getty Images

(CNN)-- We have reached the final match on the last day of the 2026 World Cup, after 103 matches and 38 days of competition.

A total of 46 teams have been eliminated, leaving only two nations: world No. 1 Argentina and world No. 2 Spain.

Surprisingly, the last time the two teams met on the World Cup stage was in 1966, but they are set to collide again on Sunday evening at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Styles make fights

First, this will be a clash between two completely opposing styles. To use a phrase coined by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, it is like heavy metal music versus an orchestra.

On one hand, the Argentina national team is characterized by attacking prowess and physical strength; they have mastered aggressive play to the point that they almost prioritize it over their clear physical skills. They start the match with a sweeping attack from the first minute, pressing the pedal to the metal and charging with all their might.

All of this sets the perfect stage for Lionel Messi to showcase his exceptional skills. His teammates, who resemble his bodyguards this summer, do the heavy lifting, allowing the 39-year-old to focus entirely on penetrating opposing defenses with his unique talent.

These are tactics that have proven successful; the abundance of late goals and comebacks indicates that opponents cannot keep up with Argentina's intensity for the full 90 minutes.

Then there is Spain; "La Roja" is characterized by patience, preferring to maintain possession and pass the ball extensively until the opponent is exhausted, waiting for any moment of relaxation. Their philosophy is simple: if we have the ball, the opponent cannot score—a philosophy that has proven effective for the national team in recent years.

Spain last won the World Cup in 2010 thanks to a similar possession-based style of play known as "tiki-taka." This style defined an era in football history, though it began to fade against more physically robust playing styles in recent seasons. Even when "La Roja" won the UEFA Nations League in 2022, it was due to the speed and efficiency of their players on the wings.

However, after several injuries within the squad this summer, coach Luis de la Fuente returned to Spain's traditional style, which makes them the favorite to win the title.

Argentina's goal is clear to everyone: knock Spain out of their rhythm.

Nevertheless, Spain's Rodri will be among the players in the spotlight. Often, this 30-year-old player is the primary engine of the Spanish midfield; he is the one who maintains the rhythm of the game.

No player in the tournament has completed more passes than him (694, more than a hundred passes ahead of any other player). Stopping him means Argentina will dismantle Spain's striking force.

You will not be surprised to learn that no team has committed more fouls than Argentina in this tournament, so expect plenty of aggressive tackles and intense confrontations on and off the pitch.

Spain must remain calm and not be dragged into provocations if they want to stick to their plan, although that is easier said than done. What is certain is that referee Slavko Vinčić will face a difficult task from the very beginning.

Rodri told reporters before the match: "I think Sunday's game will be completely different because it will be more physical, and we must be prepared," expressing confidence that his team is capable of withstanding any style of play.

He added: "We know how to play different games depending on the moment; therefore, we can adapt to defending, counter-attacking, and attacking. We are a very complete team, and that is why we are here."

King vs. Prince

The difference in styles is one of the subplots, but arguably not as exciting as the possibility of Messi facing Lamine Yamal.

I do not need to remind you of Messi's talents; he is simply the best, and has been for nearly two decades. But if there is one man who has the potential to match or even exceed the Argentine's achievements, it might be Yamal.

We say 'man,' but the Spaniard is still fundamentally a teenager. He turned nineteen earlier this week, yet he has achieved success surpassing what most players attain throughout their entire careers.

He has already won the La Liga title 3 times with Barcelona and is a European champion with Spain. He is now just one match away from adding the World Cup to his trophy cabinet, in his first participation in the tournament.

It is no wonder he is compared to Messi; both emerged at the same club, both play on the same wing, and both possess the same supernatural talent to bypass defenders with ease.

Yamal has always downplayed the comparison, focusing instead on being the best version of himself. Although his level this summer was affected by an injury he was recovering from before the tournament, he will be the center of Argentina's attention.

There has been renewed talk about the famous 2007 photo shoot featuring Messi bathing a small child, who turned out to be Yamal.

It will be a strange, full-circle moment when the two players face each other for the first time.

Looking at the progress of the tournament so far, you might expect Spain's concern about Messi to be greater than Argentina's concern about Yamal, but do not underestimate this young man.

Performance Comparison

Argentina is the only team to have won all its matches in this tournament, while Spain also remains unbeaten but drew its opening group stage match. However, this record full of victories masks the fact that this Argentina team has come close to elimination on more than one occasion. The Cape Verde match went to extra time in the Round of 32, while the Egypt team was just 11 minutes away from victory before Messi's miracle overturned the course of the Round of 16 match. Then, a red card helped Argentina narrowly overcome Switzerland in the quarter-finals, and their late comeback against England concluded an incredibly dramatic knockout stage in the semi-finals.

Argentina's physical style of play does not suit everyone, and the team has become the target of a baseless conspiracy theory claiming that FIFA was somehow helping them reach the final. Whether you like it or hate it, you must respect Argentina's perseverance.

Earlier, Messi said: "Once again, we have proven ourselves among the top two teams in the world. This proves that everything we did was not just a coincidence and that we did not get anything easily."

As for Spain, they have developed remarkably in this tournament after a difficult start, and their 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals was their best performance ever—a performance that caught the world's attention.

Before that, as with Argentina, "La Roja" relied on some late goals to get through the final stages, especially from Mikel Merino, who scored the winning goal in both the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals after coming on as a late substitute.

However, no team has scored as many goals as Argentina in this tournament (19 goals), and no team has conceded fewer goals than Spain (a single goal).

All other things.