As Argentina prepares to face Spain in the World Cup final, several players have proven indispensable to the team’s title defense, each contributing in ways that extend beyond simple statistics.
Lionel Messi
Messi’s value has been evident throughout the tournament, from his record-setting hat-trick against Algeria to his two assists in the dramatic semifinal comeback against England, a performance that showed his continued ability to shape matches even without scoring himself.
Enzo Fernández
Fernández’s goals in two of Argentina’s most must-win moments, the comeback against Egypt and the semifinal against England, make him arguably the tournament’s most clutch performer for Argentina outside of Messi.
Julián Álvarez
Álvarez’s extra-time winner against Switzerland proved decisive in a match Argentina otherwise struggled to control, reinforcing his status as one of the squad’s most valuable attacking assets alongside Messi.
Emiliano Martínez
While tested less severely than in 2022, Martínez’s reputation and composure in goal, particularly in potential shootout scenarios, have continued providing Argentina with a psychological advantage that opposing teams have openly acknowledged fearing.
Cristian Romero
Romero’s blend of defensive organization and timely attacking contributions, including his goal against Egypt, have made him one of the squad’s most complete and valuable performers on both ends of the pitch.
Why Value Matters Beyond Star Power
What separates this Argentina squad from previous generations is how widely distributed this value has become. Rather than depending on Messi alone, manager Lionel Scaloni has built a team where multiple players have proven capable of delivering in the tournament’s most pressure-filled moments, a quality that will be tested once more in Sunday’s final against Spain.