Lionel Scaloni has some tricky decisions to make as his Argentina team faces up to a second consecutive World Cup final today.
Only two other nations have succeeded in defending a World Cup title, but Argentina will be reasonably confident of taking that number to three as they face Spain in New Jersey this afternoon.
Argentina are not believed to have suffered any new injury concerns in the stunning semi-final win against England, but the performances of several players off the bench during that dramatic last-gasp comeback will have given their head coach plenty of food for thought.
Emiliano Martinez is still firmly entrenched as his country’s starting goalkeeper, while, despite high-profile criticism from the likes of Gary Neville, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez remain the first-choice centre-back partnership.
Right-back Gonzalo Montiel impressed as a substitute against England and could take the place of Nahuel Molina in the final, while on the left Nicolas Tagliafico has been preferred to Facundo Medina in recent matches.
Leandro Paredes should once again be entrusted to anchor the midfield in an engrossing battle with Rodri and Fabian Ruiz, sitting behind another Premier League pairing of Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister.
Rodrigo De Paul was replaced by the battling Giuliano Simeone against England, but his impact off the bench was also not insignificant and that change seems potentially likely to be reversed against Spain.
Nicolas Gonzalez will feel that he deserves a start following his notable part in the late semi-final onslaught in Atlanta, while Julian Alvarez’s place is again under pressure after Lautaro Martinez’s latest last-gasp goal in midweek.
One starting place in no doubt whatsoever of course is that of Lionel Messi, who was once again utterly sublime to inspire that Argentina fightback against old rivals England and now stands on the cusp of confirming his status as surely the greatest footballer of all time in a potential fairytale ending to his glittering international career.
Predicted Argentina XI (4-1-3-2): E Martinez; Montiel, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Alvarez, Messi
Time and date: 8pm BST on Sunday July 19, 2026
Venue: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
How to watch: BBC and ITV
