Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino acknowledged that limiting the threat of Argentine star Lionel Messi will be a "massive challenge" in Sunday's 2026 World Cup final. Merino told reporters on Friday at the training center in East Hanover, New Jersey: "It's a huge challenge and an incredible motivation for me and the entire team. To be able to play against a team like Argentina, which has won this title before, makes the match even more important, and I am very excited to experience this moment." The Arsenal midfielder has scored two crucial goals that helped Spain reach the final. After coming on as a substitute, he scored the 1-0 winner against Portugal in the round of 16 and the 2-1 winner against Belgium in the quarterfinal. Merino commented: "I have a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities, and every time I step onto the pitch I believe I can make an impact for the team." He expects a tough match against Argentina and stressed that the referee will need to control the intensity of challenges, their frequency, and the number of fouls. He said: "The faster the ball moves between us, the less time the opponent has to commit fouls." The Arsenal player also expressed his great admiration for his compatriots who won the World Cup in 2010, the first time in Spain's history. He said: "To be able to represent our country today, and to be those very players for the new generations, for the children watching us, that is enchanting."