2026 World Cup final: 10 key stats behind Argentina, Spain’s title bid

By Saheed Oyelakin

Argentina and Spain will battle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title on Sunday, with both finalists carrying remarkable statistics into the tournament’s last match.

From Lionel Messi’s goalscoring exploits to Spain’s defensive dominance and unbeaten run, here are 10 standout numbers that define the finalists’ journey, as reported by FIFA on Sunday.

648 – Rodri’s passing masterclass

Spain midfielder Rodri has completed 648 passes at the tournament, the most ever by a player at a FIFA World Cup.

The Manchester City star surpassed his own previous record of 638 passes set at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

His closest challengers are Spain teammates Pau Cubarsi (547) and Aymeric Laporte (533).

37 – Spain’s unbeaten streak

Spain head into the final unbeaten in 37 international matches, equaling the men’s world record.

Since losing 1-0 to Colombia in March 2024, La Roja have recorded 27 wins and 10 draws, matching the unbeaten runs previously achieved by Italy (2018–2021) and Argentina (2019–2022).

30 – Yamal leads dribbling chart

Spain winger Lamine Yamal has completed a tournament-high 30 successful dribbles.

He leads France’s Kylian Mbappe (24), Brazil’s Vinicius Junior (23), Argentina captain Lionel Messi (22) and Belgium’s Jeremy Doku (21).

19 – Argentina’s attacking firepower

Argentina have scored 19 goals in seven matches, averaging 2.71 goals per game.

It is the highest tally by a team at a World Cup since Brazil also scored 19 goals in 1970.

Only Hungary (27 in 1954), West Germany (25 in 1954), France (23 in 1958) and Brazil (22 in 1950) have scored more in a single edition.

Spain have scored 13 goals, surpassing their previous tournament best of 11 in 1986 and their title-winning tally of eight in 2010.

13 – Argentina’s scoring streak

The defending champions have now scored at least two goals in 13 consecutive World Cup matches, a tournament record.

Their last World Cup match without scoring twice was the 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game at Qatar 2022.

8 – Messi chasing history

Messi has scored eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, the second-highest tally at the tournament.

Only Kylian Mbappe scored more goals (10) after the France captain netted two in the 4-6 defeat to England in the third-place playoff on Saturday.

7 – Argentina’s perfect run

Argentina have won all seven matches at the tournament, equalling Brazil’s record from the 2002 World Cup.

A victory over Spain would make Lionel Scaloni’s side only the fifth team to win every match en route to lifting the World Cup.

6 – Simon’s record clean sheets

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon has kept six clean sheets in seven matches, the highest ever recorded by a goalkeeper in a single World Cup.

He also set a new World Cup record of 650 consecutive minutes without conceding before Belgium finally breached his goal in the quarter-finals.

Spain have conceded only one goal at the tournament and could become the first World Cup winners to lift the trophy after allowing just one goal throughout the competition.

5 – Argentina’s long-range threat

Argentina have scored five goals from outside the penalty area, equalling the World Cup record.

Messi has scored two of those strikes, while Giovani Lo Celso, Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez have contributed one each.

5 – Oyarzabal joins Spanish greats

Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal has scored five goals at the tournament, equalling Spain’s single-World Cup record set by Emilio Butragueno in 1986 and matched by David Villa in 2010.

He also shares Spain’s record for most goal contributions at a single World Cup with six.

Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium will determine whether Argentina retain their crown or Spain claim a second FIFA World Cup title, with several individual and team records also on the line.