Former England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has backed Spain to lift the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy, arguing that La Roja's purposeful possession game and tactical discipline give them the edge over Argentina in the tournament's final showdown. Fowler, however, cautioned that Lionel Messi remains a match-winner capable of reshaping any game in an instant.

Spain's Style Sets Them Apart

Fowler was effusive in his praise for Spain's approach throughout the tournament, drawing a clear distinction between possession for its own sake and possession with intent. “I’ve been massively impressed with Spain. They play football with a purpose—it’s not possession for possession’s sake. They move the ball through the lines quickly and everything they do has intent. Technically and tactically, I’d say Spain have the edge,” Fowler said in an interview with Zee5.

He elaborated that Spain's danger stems from their ability to break the press, accelerate the tempo at will, and exploit pockets of space through clever movement. “They’ve got clever players who find pockets of space, dictate games and know exactly when to accelerate the tempo. That’s what makes them such a dangerous team,” he added.

Argentina's Fighting Spirit Will Make It a Contest

Despite favouring Spain, Fowler was careful not to dismiss Argentina's chances, pointing to the reigning champions' resilience and competitive instinct as factors that will ensure a tightly fought final. “Argentina have got the blood, guts and fight to make it a real game. It’ll be a fascinating final because both teams have different strengths, and I think Argentina will definitely make a game out of it,” he said.

Fowler had originally tipped Argentina to win the tournament before it began, citing their status as defending champions. Their run to the final has reinforced that assessment, even as Spain's consistency has shifted his ultimate prediction.

The Messi Question: Space Is Everything

Fowler identified neutralising Lionel Messi as Spain's most critical defensive task, drawing on what happened when England faced the Argentine captain in the semi-final. “If you’re playing against Messi, it’s absolutely vital that you don’t give him space. If he gets space, he creates chances and goals. We saw against England that once he found those pockets of space, he completely changed the game,” Fowler noted.

On the tactical approach, Fowler stressed adaptability over a fixed defensive scheme. “You need both. There’ll be moments to press high and moments to stay compact because you can’t play one way for 90 minutes against a player like Messi,” he explained. He added that Spain must identify and close the specific channels Messi prefers to operate in if they are to contain Argentina's most influential player.

Yamal Peaking at the Right Moment

Alongside the Messi factor, Fowler flagged teenage Spain winger Lamine Yamal as another potential match-winner after what he described as a sharper display in the semi-final. “Messi is one of the greatest players the game has ever seen and you can never write him off in a World Cup final. But Lamine Yamal looked much sharper in the semi-final and seems to be peaking at exactly the right time. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those two ends up deciding the biggest game in football,” Fowler said.

Yamal's emergence as a consistent threat at this level adds another dimension to an already compelling final, setting up a potential generational contrast between the teenage prodigy and the veteran Messi on the sport's grandest stage.

Fowler's Final Verdict

Summing up his assessment, Fowler pointed to Spain's demonstrated desire, game management, and technical quality as the deciding factors. “Argentina have been brilliant throughout the tournament and they were actually my pick before it started because they’re the reigning champions. But I’ve been massively impressed with Spain. They’ve shown the desire to win, excellent game management and outstanding technical ability. For me, Spain are the team to beat, and they’re my pick to lift the FIFA World Cup,” he concluded.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 final now imminent, all eyes will be on whether Spain's tactical intelligence can contain Messi's genius—or whether Argentina's champion pedigree will once again prove decisive on football's biggest night.