Tribal Football

Has Lionel Messi played against Spain?

Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi.Reuters

Defending champions Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19.

La Roja cruised to a 2-0 semi-final win over tournament favourites France as Lionel Scaloni's side secured an epic 2-1 comeback victory over old rivals England.

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The clash in New Jersey pits Lionel Messi against the country where he spent the bulk of his life as part of an iconic career with Barcelona.

Messi admitted his fondness for Spain, but he's fully focused on retaining the trophy he won for the first time four years' ago, and he boasts a solid personal record against Spain.

Overall, the two sides have faced each other 14 times, with six wins each, plus two draws.

They have only met once in World Cup action before, in the 1966 group stages, as Argentina won 2-1 at Villa Park.

Since Messi's international debut in 2005, Argentina and Spain have faced off four times in friendly action, with three wins for La Roja and one for Argentina.

Messi started in 2-1 losses in Murcia (2006) and Madrid (2009) and scored in the latter game before netting again in a 4-1 victory for Argentina in Buenos Aires.

He missed Spain's 6-1 win in Madrid in 2018 as Isco bagged a hat trick for Julen Lopetegui's team at the Estadio Metropolitano.

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