Luis de la Fuente Reveals How Spain Plans to Stop Lionel Messi in World Cup Final vs Argentina
The most suggested idea from fans and pundits has been to put one player to follow Messi everywhere, but De la Fuente says that will not work.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has revealed his masterplan to stop Lionel Messi in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between La Roja and defending champions Argentina, and it does not involve man-marking the greatest player of all time.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, De la Fuente has ruled out assigning a dedicated marker to Lionel Messi, recalling how a similar tactic backfired spectacularly against the Argentina captain when he was a teenager.
World Cup Final: Spain Coach Refuses To Use ‘Most Suggested’ Tactic To Stop Lionel Messi. The most suggested idea from fans and pundits has been to put one player to follow Messi everywhere, but De la Fuente says that will not work.
Instead, the Spanish coach insisted Spain will defend collectively rather than build their entire plan around one individual. He emphasized respecting Argentina’s overall quality while trusting Spain’s own identity of possession and pressing.
“We had a game plan where the first idea was to keep Messi at bay but also other players away from our goal,” De la Fuente said after the match. “Something very important was the attitude of our players. We were convinced it was our final and we wanted to go all out for this final.”
Spain head into the final unbeaten after conceding just one goal in seven matches throughout the tournament, underlining De la Fuente’s balanced tactical approach. Argentina, on the other hand, have been the tournament’s highest-scoring side with 19 goals, led by Messi’s eight goals and four assists.
De la Fuente also credited his staff for analysing Argentina and developing a tactical play to keep Argentina’s talisman on the periphery of the game. He said Spain must concentrate on making life difficult for Argentina as a team rather than trying to eliminate Messi from the game completely.
Former Spain legend Andres Iniesta, who scored Spain’s winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands, had earlier sent a clear warning to Spain ahead of the final, saying trying to stop Messi alone is impossible and could leave space for other Argentina attackers.
The final also carries a special personal twist. It is master vs apprentice, as De la Fuente will face his former student. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was once a pupil of De la Fuente on a coaching course, and now his teacher will line up against him in opposite technical areas.
Luis de la Fuente’s Spain will try to deliver the country’s second World Cup, 16 years after their first in South Africa in 2010, while Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are seeking to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World crowns.
Spain have stuck to their idea all tournament, staying faithful to possession football, high pressing, and solidarity. “These players deserve everything — day after day they’ve showed their commitment, their solidarity, their generosity, their talent,” De la Fuente added.
Whether the plan to stop Messi without a man-marker will work will be decided on Sunday night in New Jersey.
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