Reigning European champions Spain take on World and Copa America winners Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final tomorrow. La Roja, the four-time Euro winners eliminated firm favourites France in the semi-final. Meanwhile, La Albicelestes, led by the iconic Lionel Messi, has been the team staging exceptional comebacks since the knockouts began. The defending champions have a herculian task in hand when they face a tactically disciplined Spain imbibed with a ball possession prowess that choked opponents this World Cup. Ankit Pattnaik takes a look at both camps ahead of the summit clash.

Road to the final:

SPAIN:

Group stage: 0-0 draw vs Cabo Verde, 4-0 vs Saudi Arabia, 1-0 vs Uruguay

Round of 32: 3-0 vs Austria

Round of 16: 1-0 vs Portugal

Quarter-final: 2-1 vs Belgium

Semifinal: 2-0 vs France

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ARGENTINA:

Group stage: 3-0 vs Algeria, 2-0 vs Austria, 3-1 vs Jordan

Round of 32: 3-2 vs Cabo Verde

Round of 16: 3-2 vs Egypt

Quarter-final: 3-1 vs Switzerland

Semifinal: 2-1 vs England

Head-to-head:

The continental champions have met just once at the World Cup – in 1966 – which Argentina won 2-1. Of the 13 meetings, Spain have won six compared to Argentina’s five while two matches ended in draws. Interestingly, they were due to meet this February in the ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar but the match was cancelled due to regional instability in West Asia.

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Golden Ball (best player): Messi is touted to grab this coveted award, challenged by Frenchman Kylian Mbappe. Messi is the only player to have won this award twice so far (2014 & 2022).

Golden Boot (top goalscorer): With 10 goals and 4 assists, Mbappe is leading the Golden Boot race. He is followed by Messi with 8 goals and 3 assists (may change following the final on Monday midnight).

Golden Glove (best goalkeeper): Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón is the frontrunner to win the prestigious award. Simón’s efforts and a strong defence unit has ensured that Spain’s goal post has just a solitary breach against Belgium. He is closely followed by Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez – the 2022 winner.