Brazil legend Ronaldo has predicted that Spain will 'easily' beat Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 21, 2026. Speaking on his official TikTok account alongside fellow 2002 World Cup winner Denilson, Ronaldo shared his analysis of the match-up.
Spain's Dominant Run to the Final
Spain reached the final with a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-final. After an initial surprise draw against Cape Verde in their group opener, Spain won their next six matches and have conceded just one goal throughout the entire tournament. Their defensive solidity and possession-based style have been key to their success.
Argentina's Path and Messi's Influence
Argentina, the defending champions, staged a late comeback against England in the semi-final to secure their place in the final. Lionel Messi, who turned 39 last month, has been instrumental in several matches, demonstrating character and a spirit of overcoming adversity, according to Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's Verdict
Ronaldo stated, 'I think Spain wins and the game will be easy. For me, France and Spain have always been the favourites.' He added, 'I think Spain wins easy with football played in an extraordinary way. Their DNA is not just the football played in this World Cup, they have been doing this for a long time.' Ronaldo attributed the philosophy to Pep Guardiola's influence at Barcelona from 2006-2007.
He further explained, 'I think there's a lot of Guardiola in there to have started this philosophy. So I think Spain wins easy. I don't believe Argentina has the strength to become a game of a 1-0, 2-0 because Spain will have possession of the ball all of the time.'
Argentina's Resilience
While acknowledging Argentina's resilience, Ronaldo noted, 'What is still an absolute success for Argentina for this World Cup is the way they turned games on several occasions, Messi, one more time makes one more beautiful story at a World Cup.' He praised their character but concluded that Spain's automated style would prevail.
