Could we have asked for a better World Cup final?
The top two teams in FIFA’s pre-tournament rankings will clash on July 19 in New York New Jersey Stadium, with 39-year-old Lionel Messi squaring off against 19-year-old Lamine Yamal.Â
With so many storylines and tons of history to be made, FOX Sports Research has broken down this historic matchup by the numbers.Â
Let’s take a look.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
1: For the first time, the World Cup final features the reigning European champion against the reigning South American champion.
1: This is also the first time the No. 1 (Argentina) and No. 2 (Spain) ranked teams in the FIFA world rankings have met in the World Cup final (since rankings were introduced in 1992).
2: There are only two players at this World Cup who have completed 20-plus dribbles: Lionel Messi (25) and Lamine Yamal (22).
1966: The two have met once before at the World Cup, with Argentina winning 2-1 in the 1966 group stage.
14: These two teams have met 14 times before, with the record split at 6-2-6 (W-D-L) all-time (all competitions); Spain has won four of the last six meetings between the two, with Argentinas last victory coming in 2010.
0: Yamal has yet to record a goal or assist in the knockout stage of the World Cup; he is the third teenager to make seven appearances at the World Cup (Kylian Mbappé, Pau CubarsÃ).
1: Spain is looking to be the first country to hold the mens and womens World Cups simultaneously.
7: Spain is looking to become the seventh nation to win multiple World Cups, having won its only previous appearance in the final in 2010.
3: La Roja is looking to become the third country to win the title in both its first two World Cup final appearances (1930 and 1950 Uruguay, 1934 and 1938 Italy).
3: Mikel Oyarzabal is the third Spanish player ever to reach five career World Cup goals (2010 David Villa, 1986 Emilio Butragueño); with one more goal, he will become the first Spanish player to score six goals at a single World Cup.
5: Spain is the fifth reigning European champ to reach the World Cup final, and is looking to be the third to win the title (1974 Germany, 2010 Spain).
5: Spain has won five of the six finals it has played in major tournaments (World Cup, Euros).
6: La Roja is the first team to keep six clean sheets at a single World Cup, and has conceded one goal in seven games at this World Cup.
8: Dani Olmo has eight assists at major tournaments (World Cup, Euros), one shy of passing Cesc FÃ bregas for the most by a Spanish player ever.
14: Luis de la Fuente has managed more games across the World Cup and European Championship without ever losing than any other manager ever at 14 (13 wins, one draw).
15: Spain is unbeaten in 15 straight major-tournament games (13 wins, two draws); La Roja is also the first European team to win eight straight knockout games at major tournaments (World Cup, Euros).
37: Spain is unbeaten in 37 straight games overall (28 wins, nine draws), tyin
