Spain v Argentina LIVE: Team news and Messi’s emotional words before World Cup final – UK Times

To quote Rio Ferdinand, “Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or! Ballon d’Or!”.

Although Ferdinand’s most infamously unilluminating piece of punditry was actually about Vinicius Junior, who didn’t win the Ballon d’Or, as Rodri instead did.

And if the Spaniard will have part of the responsibility for shutting down the Argentine, their duel in New York can seem part of a wider clash of philosophies.

And no, it wasn’t anyone connected to England, following their almost unbelievable collapse in Atlanta, despite everyone – and especially those in Argentina – seeing the many media items about all of the unpunished fouls in that quarter-final.

With Lionel Scaloni’s side, though, the fouls are only one thing during this engrossing World Cup.

Such hardness is even seen as among the more “honest” offences. What infuriates opposition more is all the gamesmanship, the interventions like Enzo Fernandez going into the back of Elliot Anderson and, of course, the goading celebrations.

Ahead of a day imbued with more meaning than any other in football, to the extent the stakes can seize lesser players, there is a distinctive serenity about the two teams left.

As Spanish captain Rodri said to his teammates, “Your will to win has to be greater than the fear of losing.” Argentina feel the same.

Both of the victories infusing these two great sides with even more assurance, but in different ways.

“The best part of all these years wasn’t just the titles, but the entire journey,” said Messi on Instagram yesterday.

“Sharing every day with this group, competing together, getting back up in tough times, and enjoying every step.

“Thank you to each of my teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone who works every day to keep this national team a family.

“Whatever happens tomorrow, this group has already written a story we’ll never forget and that no one can erase.

“LET’S GO, ARGENTINA.”

All-time great Messi, 39, will look to lead Argentina to a second straight World Cup trophy and the nation’s fourth overall, after triumphs in 1978, 1986 and 2022.

Follow live updates from the World Cup final, right here.