East Rutherford: Lionel Messi’s Argentina made three changes to their starting lineup for Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain as the champions bid to become the first team since 1962 to retain the trophy.
Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the 2022 final shootout against France, comes in at right back in place of Nahuel Molina for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina.
The other changes see Rodrigo De Paul return to midfield, where Nico González also starts, making way for Leandro Paredes and Giuliano Simeone.
Argentina reached the final by defeating England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semifinal in Atlanta after a dramatic late comeback.
Messi, 39, will play in his third World Cup final and begins the day with eight goals in the tournament, two behind Frenchman Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Argentine captain has scored 21 goals in total in World Cups, one less than Mbappé’s record of 22.
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente named the same lineup that started the 2-0 semi-final victory against France.
Lamine Yamal, who can become the third-youngest player to win a World Cup just six days after turning 19, starts on the right wing for the defending European champions.
Spain aspires to win a second World Cup after its previous triumph in 2010.
If Argentina wins, it will be their fourth title, which would put them level with Germany and Italy and one behind five-time champions Brazil.
Starting lineups
Spain: Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri (captain), Fabián Ruiz; Laminé Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal
Coach: Luis de la Fuente (ESP)
Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Nico González; Enzo Fernandez; Lionel Messi (captain), Julián Álvarez
Coach: Lionel Scaloni (ARG)
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SLO)
