Deportes

England, the great rival; Maradona in memory; another comeback in Atlanta, once again in extremis; the second consecutive World Cup final for the current champions, the third of Messi’s career, who at 39 years old seems eternal; Argentina recovers good football, the rage against the refrain of suspicions of gifts or help… After the semifinal, with emotions running high, at that moment with so many stimuli, Leo Messi cannot help but remember Barcelona, his club and his home. These are true feelings, crossing in moments of happiness.

In October 1980, Muhammad Ali returned to the ring to try to become world champion for the fourth time. Facing him was Larry Holmes, his former sparring partner, the man who had learned to strike by accompanying the master and who now occupied his throne. The fight was dubbed…

A team above all. The recipe for success of De la Fuente’s Spain is clear. No one is above the collective. Everyone works for the common good. The coach has managed to convince his players of the best path to the top. Everyone rows in the same direction and, for now, they have reached a World Cup final. But this great collective game is fueled by small details, by connections between individuals from which the team later feeds. Although it is almost impossible to highlight someone above the rest in the Spanish ranks, some pairs of players can be distinguished who have given solidity, brilliance, and reliability to the team. A chemistry that Luis de la Fuente has perfectly identified and enhances in his strategies.

Without the existence of La Masia, this Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain would be different. Heck, football in general would be different. The influence of the emblematic building, symbol of FC Barcelona’s youth academy as well as a very particular way of understanding this sport, has gone much further than imagined when it was established, back in 1979, as a residence for young footballers coming from outside Barcelona in order to group them together and keep them controlled, as they used to sleep scattered around.

Purists get sick to their stomachs.

The Spanish national team began preparing this Thursday for the World Cup final, which will see them face Messi’s Argentina on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. And they did so with Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro on the sidelines during the initial rondos, an open space for the media.

The unrestrained action of Nicolás Otamendi and Giovani Lo Celso displaying a banner with the slogan “The Malvinas are Argentine” after winning the 2026 World Cup semifinals against England (1-2) has ignited the fuse of a tense diplomatic controversy between the two countries, which is on the path to flare up.

“It is a huge team, with great players, with skill… a team that I know very well,” praised Leo Messi about his next opponent in the World Cup final this Sunday at Metlife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. The Argentine star analyzed La Roja and did not hide his excitement about facing many of those who were his teammates during his long time at FC Barcelona, a club that he “always loves and follows,” he said in statements to FIFA after being named MVP of the semifinal against England.

The first time Leo Messi played in a World Cup, back in 2006, Lamine Yamal was not even a life project yet. 20 years later, the two latest great idols of Barcelona will have the opportunity to meet on the pitch for the first and, presumably, last time, no less than in a World Cup final. The photo between the two main representatives of Argentina and Spain will be the most sought after for its exceptionality, but it will not be the first.

Thomas Tuchel is in the eye of the storm. England’s elimination at the hands of Argentina (1-2) in the World Cup semifinals has triggered a wave of criticism in English football. Former internationals, analysts, and media all agree in pointing to the German coach’s ultra-defensive approach after the 1-0.