In a historic first, Argentina and Spain meet in the World Cup final on Sunday, marking the first time reigning champions from both South America and Europe face off for the ultimate prize. The stage is set for an intense battle as Lionel Messi, with eight goals and four assists, aims for the Golden Boot against a formidable Spain defense led by Unai Simon, which has conceded only one goal in seven matches.

This matchup symbolizes a classic confrontation of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. As the tournament progresses, Argentina has scored nine goals, while Spain has netted eleven, showcasing their offensive capabilities. Luis de la Fuente's squad relies heavily on possession, with Rodri effectively neutralizing counter-attacks, while Pedri and Fabian Ruiz facilitate forward movement.

Despite some players like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams facing challenges, Spain has found scoring success through their two key players, Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino, who have combined for seven goals, just one behind Messi’s tally.

On the Argentine side, while Messi remains the focal point, the squad's reliance on his individual brilliance is evident. Manager Lionel Scaloni made a pivotal change in the semifinals against England, opting for Giuliano Simeone instead of Rodrigo De Paul, a move that may carry into the final.

Both teams boast mostly healthy rosters, allowing for strategic selections. The predicted lineups are as follows:

• Spain predicted XI: Unai Simon; Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Pedro Porro; Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, Dani Olmo; Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal
• Argentina predicted XI: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Giuliano Simeone; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez

As anticipation builds, football fans worldwide are eager to witness this epic confrontation.