Did the World Cup 2026 final bring together two best teams of the tournament? Numbers tell a very different story

Spain won the 2026 World Cup final, controlling the match from start to finish.

Argentina reached the final by winning every match, including a dramatic semi-final against England.

Argentina's tournament run relied heavily on Lionel Messi's individual brilliance to overcome structural limitations.

Spain dominated the final with 65% possession and 20 shots; Argentina did not record a single shot in regulation time.

The article argues tournament knockouts can bring teams to the final that are not the second-best overall, citing Argentina as an example.