Luis de la Fuente has revealed how his Spanish side limited Lionel Messi’s influence on the pitch as they delivered football’s biggest prize.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their second achievement at the tournament. Despite going into the game with full confidence, Messi and Argentina failed to find their rhythm against a well drilled Spanish side.
The La Roja successfully kept the Messi away from dangerous areas for much of the match, limiting the Inter Miami star’s influence.
Following the game, De la Fuente described the tournament as the result of continuous improvement and collective effort.
The La Roja boss felt his team deserved their success after producing the better display in the final. Although he admitted they would have preferred to settle the contest sooner.
He also explained how Spain executed their plan to contain Messi.
Luis de la Fuente, Head Coach of Spain, kisses the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy after the team’s victory over Argentina . (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
“We had a great World Cup and we learned from every game. We were superior in the final, it’s a pity we didn’t win it earlier, but it is never easy to play games like this,” De la Fuente told Rai Sport. “Winning with sacrifices is always the best thing.”
Discussing Spain’s approach to Messi, he added: “We managed to keep him away with ball possession. We did very well indeed, the work of the team was sublime.”
The Spain coach also credited his players for maintaining the standards required to reach the top.
“I have wonderful players, brilliant, the best in the world. They make things look easier and besides that, they always work with the maximum dedication,” he explained. “We had the best team, not the best national team, we had great attention and I am very proud of my players.”
Having previously won Euro 2024 under De la Fuente, Spain will be aiming to reach the top of the podium again at the next international tournament.
