Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario believes Spain will have too much quality for defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, backing Luis de la Fuente’s side to secure a comfortable victory over Lionel Messi‘s team. Spain and Argentina will meet at the New York, New Jersey Stadium on Sunday in the 104th and final match of the expanded tournament. La Roja head into the showpiece unbeaten in 37 matches and having conceded just one goal in seven World Cup outings, while Argentina are chasing a fourth world title and hoping to become the first men’s team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the trophy. Speaking to ESPN Brasil before 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 had stood out as his favourites throughout the tournament. With France eliminated following 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 were always the favourites,” Ronaldo said. Ronaldo believes Spain’s ability to dominate possession could prove decisive against Argentina. According to the former striker, if Spain establish an early lead, Messi’s side may struggle to find a way back into the contest. “I don’t think Argentina have the strength to turn the game around if Spain go one or two goals ahead, because Spain will have possession all the time,” he said. Spain have controlled matches throughout the tournament and are aiming to lift the World Cup for only 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 victory, Ronaldo praised Argentina’s achievement in reaching another World Cup final just four years after winning the title in Qatar, describing their campaign as an outstanding one. Ronaldo’s opinion carries added weight given his own World Cup pedigree. He won the tournament with Brazil in 1994 before starring in the 1998 edition, where he guided his country to the final and received the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player. He then completed 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 victory over Germany in the final. Across four World Cup campaigns, Ronaldo scored 15 goals in 19 appearances and remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer in the history of the tournament.
