.jpg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "World Cup champion pleads for Trump’s help in getting into US for Spain v Argentina – UK Times")
After a tournament of thrills, spills and plenty of heartbreak, the race to be crowned world champions has finally been narrowed down to just two teams.
Argentina are looking to defend their 2022 title, with talisman Lionel Messi hoping to lead his team to another victory in his sixth World Cup appearance.
The Spanish side meanwhile are chasing their second title after winning the tournament in 2010.
Before it all kicks off on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium, Daily Mail Sport gives you the key stats from both teams’ performances up to this point…
Argentina are looking to defend their 2022 title, with talisman Lionel Messi hoping to lead his team to another victory in his sixth World Cup appearance
Argentina
Manager: Lionel Scaloni
Argentina, who shattered hearts across England by knocking them out in the semi-finals, have won the World Cup three times before, in 1978, 1986 and 2022.
1986 was, of course, the year of the infamous Hand of God goal by Diego Maradona that deepened the tense rivalry between England and Argentina.
Key stats
Most minutes played
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has played every minute, with 798 – two of Argentina’s games having gone to extra time. In terms of outfield stars, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister has played every minute of every game bar the final group game, when he came off the bench with the team already through. He has totalled 728, ahead of only Lionel Messi on 712.
Alexis Mac Allister has banked 630 minutes of pitch time, having appeared in the starting XI of every match but one
Least minutes played
Midfielder Valentin Barco has only managed 19 minutes on the pitch, during the group-stage match against Jordan. Despite being benched during the semi-final, he did make quite an impression on Jude Bellingham, who slapped him on the head after the whistle.
Striker Jose Manuel Lopez has also spent a lot of time on the bench, with just 18 minutes of playing time across two matches. In his 10 minutes on the pitch in the quarter-final against Switzerland, he made one assist and earned himself a yellow card.
Most goals
Lionel Messi with eight in total, which also puts him on top of the Golden Boot race. It also tops his personal record for goals scored in a World Cup. His previous high was during the 2022 tournament when he scored seven overall.
Midfielder Valentin Barco has only managed 19 minutes on the pitch – but still managed to make quite an impression on Jude Bellingham, who slapped him on the head after the whistle
Most shots per match
Messi, again, with 4.9.
Most assists
You guessed it, Messi. The 39-year-old has made four assists so far.
Highest-rated player (via Sofascore)
Messi at 9.03. The nine-time Ballon d’Or winner has the highest rating of all players throughout the tournament.
Spain
Manager: Luis de la Fuente
After a masterclass display against France in the semi-final, La Roja are hoping to win their second World Cup title. If their performance in the tournament so far is anything to go by, they stand a good chance.
Key stats
Most minutes played
Defenders Pau Cubarsi and Marc Cucurella have played all of Spain’s 717 minutes so far, as has goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Defenders Pau Cubarsi and Marc Cucurella have appeared in the starting XI for every single match during their World Cup run
Least minutes played
On the flip side, Eric Garcia, Alex Grimaldo, Victor Munoz and Martin Zubimendi haven’t had the chance to play at all. Maybe they’ll get their moment in the spotlight during the final, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Most goals
Mikel Oyarzabal has scored a total of five goals so far, scoring twice in both an R32 match and a group-stage game.
Most shots per match
Nineteen-year-old midfielder Lamine Yamal leads in this category, with 3.3 shots per match. He’s only managed to find the net once, though, in the group-stage match against Saudi Arabia.
Most assists
Spain’s player with the most assists, Marc Cucurella, has made half the number of assists as his Argentine counterpart, Messi. Cucurella’s two both came in the R32 against Austria.
Lamine Yamal leads with most shots per game for Spain with 3.3 per match, although he’s only managed to find the net once this tournament
Highest-rated player (via Sofascore)
Midfielder Rodri tops his squad with a score of 7.67. The Manchester City player has run the furthest distance at the tournament, covering 52.07 miles, ahead of Harry Kane in second with 48.82 miles and Elliot Anderson in third with 47.62 miles (ahead of the bronze medal match). He has brought so much more to this Spain team than simply running, of course, but it does demonstrate how much of a shift he has put in.
Head-to-head
Total goals scored
Argentina have managed an impressive 19 goals over the course of the tournament, the most of any team this year. Eight of those can, of course, be credited to Messi.
Spain are lagging behind with 13 in total.
Goals conceded
Argentina have also conceded quite a few goals, with seven in total.
Spain have fared superbly well in this category, conceding only one goal, which came against Belgium in the quarter-finals. This puts them at the top of the leaderboard across all teams in this category.
Spain have conceded just one goal throughout the whole tournament – with goalkeeper Unai Simon and the rest of the team pulling off a stellar defensive effort throughout
Possession
Argentina and Spain sit fairly evenly with their possession stats throughout the competition: Argentina at 60.9 per cent and Spain slightly higher at 63.7 per cent.
Clean sheets
Spain have six, which is three times Argentina’s two. Maybe Spain can bring their total up to seven by the end of the weekend.
Yellow cards and fouls
Argentina have managed nine yellow cards across seven matches, but no reds. They have averaged 12.6 fouls per match.
Spain have fewer, with six, and no red cards either. Their foul average sits at 11.4 per match.
Penalty goals conceded
Neither team have conceded from a penalty so far. Who knows, maybe Sunday’s final will bring a first.
Group-stage points
Argentina came into the knockout rounds strongly with nine points after winning all their matches.
Spain had seven points after drawing with Cape Verde in the group stage.
