France captain Kylian Mbappe believes Lionel Messi will waste little time in reclaiming the World Cup's all-time scoring record when Argentina face Spain in the final.

Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has accused Argentina of using overly physical tactics, claiming the reigning world champions "like to leave a mark on their opponents" ahead of tonight's FIFA World Cup final.

The biggest-ever FIFA World Cup concludes tonight with a blockbuster final between Spain and Argentina. Both nations have shown exceptional quality and an inexhaustible competitive spirit to go all the way to the title decider. Ahead of what promises to be a captivating contest at New York New Jersey Stadium, we look at the individual duels which could prove decisive.

Argentina take on Spain, the country where Albiceleste skipper Lionel Messi made his name, in a FIFA World Cup final marked by a clash of styles. Here are some key stats regarding these two giants ahead of the blockbuster final.

At 39, Messi remains as influential as he was during Argentina's triumph in Qatar. His performance in the dramatic semifinal comeback against England once again underlined his enduring ability to shape the biggest occasions.

It is the FIFA World Cup 2026 top scorers against the tournament's meanest defence. With Argentina having netted 19 goals and Spain conceding just once over seven matches, both goalkeepers are likely to play major roles in tonight’s showpiece at New York New Jersey Stadium.

When Lionel Messi walks onto the pitch in New Jersey in the early hours of Monday (Bangladesh time) to face Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will reach its final act.

The South Americans are striving to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are eyeing a second title after their maiden victory in 2010.

Lionel Messi has already won almost everything football has to offer. He has lifted the FIFA World Cup, collected a record number of Ballon d’Or awards and inspired Argentina through some of the greatest moments in the sport’s history.

The tennis legend, who retired from professional tennis in 2024 after a glittering career that saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles, remains deeply passionate about football and will be watching from home as two footballing giants battle for global glory.

There is no bigger prize in football than the FIFA World Cup, and no bigger stage than its final. Yet when Argentina and Spain meet in Monday's showpiece, the spotlight will inevitably fall on two players at opposite ends of football's timeline.

Long before Lionel Messi became a global icon, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had already experienced first-hand how quickly the diminutive forward could turn a game on its head.

The stakes could not be higher than they are at a World Cup final. And the grand finale at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on Monday (1:00am Bangladesh Time) could hardly have been scripted better, with Lionel Messi's Argentina taking on Lamine Yamal's Spain in a showdown set to bring the curtain down on the biggest edition in the competition's history.

Mikel Oyarzabal has scored in the six finals he has played as a professional.

Argentina may already have scaled the summit of world football in Qatar, but the reigning champions have shown throughout this World Cup that lifting the trophy once has done little to dull their appetite for another.

If Argentina are to retain the trophy they won in Qatar in 2022, they must first break down a Spanish defence that has been virtually impenetrable throughout the competition. Luis de la Fuente's side has conceded just one goal in seven matches, making defensive discipline the cornerstone of its run to the final.

The Arsenal dynamo became just the fourth Englishman to score a hat-trick at the global finals, after Geoff Hurst in 1966, Gary Lineker 20 years later and then Harry Kane at Russia 2018.

The two nations will battle for the title on Monday [1am, Bangladesh Time] at the East Rutherford, N.J.

This is England’s best finish at the global finals since they triumphed on home soil in 1966.

Mbappe finished his third World Cup campaign with 10 goals to the lead the Golden Boot standings, two ahead of Messi.