In the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente has dismissed the idea of man-marking Lionel Messi, a tactic often suggested to neutralize the Argentine star. De la Fuente reflected on a past experience that influenced his decision, recalling a youth match where a similar strategy failed dramatically.

Past Lessons Shape Strategy

During a press conference before the match against Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New York, De la Fuente recounted his first encounter with Messi in a youth Copa del Rey match between Sevilla and Barcelona. He explained that his team initially opted to closely mark the young Messi. However, when the player assigned to that role was substituted after receiving a card, Messi capitalized on the opportunity, scoring four goals in just 15 minutes.

A Focused Approach

Drawing from this experience, De la Fuente emphasized that Spain would not assign a single player to mark Messi in the final. "Does that mean we're going to man-mark him? No. But will we be paying a lot of attention to him? Yes," he stated, highlighting that the focus would be mutual, as Argentina would also be attentive to Spain's players.

De la Fuente also expressed admiration for Argentina and their coach, Lionel Scaloni, describing him as "a good friend." As the final approaches, the Spanish coach's strategy reflects a careful balance of respect for Messi's abilities while maintaining a collective defensive approach.