As the 2026 World Cup approaches its thrilling final showdown between Argentina and Spain, both teams grapple with injury concerns that could impact their quest for global glory.

Notably, some players have returned to fitness just in time. Lamine Yamal has become a key figure for Spain after overcoming his injury, while Neymar, despite Brazil's elimination at the hands of Norway, managed to contribute minutes in what marked his final World Cup appearance.

However, several players remain sidelined:

• Yeremy Pino (Spain): The Crystal Palace winger suffered a collarbone injury against Uruguay. Initial fears of a fracture were alleviated, but he has yet to make an appearance since the injury and is unlikely to play in the final.

• Victor Munoz (Spain): The new Liverpool signing has missed the entire tournament due to a calf injury and a subsequent muscular setback, ruling him out of the final.

• Facundo Medina (Argentina): The defender's calf issue in the knockout stage against Cape Verde has kept him off the pitch, and he faces a race against time to be fit for the final.

For the third-place play-off, England faces its own injury dilemmas:

• Reece James: The defender's health remains uncertain after he was substituted due to potential injury during the semi-final against Argentina.

• Declan Rice: After battling neural back pain and illness, Rice confirmed he is now fit and ready for the showdown against France.

• William Saliba (France): The defender's injury during the semi-final against Spain raises concerns about his availability for the third-place match.

• Jordan Henderson: Initially ruled out due to a freak injury, Henderson has opted to stay with the squad, showcasing his commitment despite his condition.