‘Spain will win easily’: Ronaldo boldly predicts Argentina ahead of World Cup final

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with teammates (AP Photo) Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario believes Spain will have too much quality in defending champions Argentina at the 2026 World Cup finals and will back Luis de la Fuente’s side to secure a comfortable victory over Lionel Messi’s side. Spain and Argentina meet at the New York, New Jersey Stadium on Sunday in the 104th and final match of the extended tournament. La Roja head into the competition unbeaten in 37 games and having conceded just one goal in seven World Cup games, while Argentina are seeking a fourth World Cup title and hope to become the first men’s team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the trophy. In an interview with ESPN Brasil ahead of the final, Ronaldo made his prediction clear. “I think Spain will win the game – and easily,” Ronaldo said. The two-time World Cup winner explained that Spain and France were his favorites throughout the tournament. With France eliminated after a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain, De la Fuente’s side now have the opportunity to complete their remarkable run by lifting the World Cup. “For me, France and Spain have always been favourites,” Ronaldo said. Ronaldo believes Spain’s ability to dominate possession could prove decisive against Argentina. According to the former striker, if Spain build an early lead, Messi’s side may struggle to find a way back into the match. “I don’t think Argentina have the power to turn the game around if Spain go up by one or two goals because Spain will have the ball all the time,” he said. Spain have controlled matches throughout the tournament and are aiming to lift the World Cup for just the second time, having previously triumphed in South Africa in 2010. Argentina, meanwhile, are bidding for a fourth title in what Messi has indicated will be his final international appearance. Despite predicting a Spanish win, Ronaldo hailed Argentina’s success in reaching another World Cup final just four years after winning the title in Qatar, describing their campaign as outstanding. Ronaldo’s opinion carries added weight given his own World Cup background. He won the tournament with Brazil in 1994 and then played in the 1998 edition where he led his country to the final and received the Ballon d’Or as the best player of the competition. He then capped a memorable comeback at the 2002 World Cup after recovering from serious knee injuries, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including both strikes in Brazil’s 2–0 win over Germany in the final. In four World Cup campaigns, Ronaldo has scored 15 goals in 19 matches and remains Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the tournament.