As Argentina and Spain prepare to meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, many fans are looking back at the last time the two football giants faced each other.
The previous meeting took place on March 27, 2018, when Spain hosted Argentina in an international friendly at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
At the time, Lionel Messi was 30 years old, specifically 30 years, 9 months, and 3 days after being born on June 24, 1987.
Did Lionel Messi play against Spain in 2018?
No. Although Messi traveled with the Argentina squad, he did not play in the match because of a hamstring injury.
Without their captain on the field, Argentina endured one of its toughest defeats in recent memory, falling 6-1 to Spain. The result remains one of the heaviest losses of the Lionel Scaloni era’s predecessor and served as a wake-up call just months before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
How old is Lionel Messi now?
By the time Argentina faces Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Messi is 39 years old.
The rematch comes more than eight years after the teams last met, highlighting the remarkable longevity of the Argentine superstar. Despite nearing 40, Messi has continued to lead Argentina on the international stage and has once again guided his country to football’s biggest match.
Argentina vs. Spain: Eight years later
A lot has changed since that 2018 friendly.
Argentina went on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while Spain rebuilt its squad around a new generation of talent. Now, the two nations meet with the sport’s biggest prize at stake rather than in a pre-tournament exhibition.
For Messi, the matchup represents another opportunity to add to his legendary international career and potentially finish yet another World Cup campaign with a championship.
Lionel Messi at a glance
- Date of birth: June 24, 1987
- Age vs. Spain in 2018: 30 years old
- Age in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final: 39 years old
- Last Argentina vs. Spain match: March 27, 2018
- Result: Spain 6-1 Argentina
- Did Messi play? No, he missed the match due to injury
Final thoughts
Lionel Messi was 30 years old the last time Argentina faced Spain, but he never stepped onto the pitch due to injury. More than eight years later, at 39 years old, he returns for one of the biggest matches of his career as Argentina and Spain meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, adding another memorable chapter to one of international football’s most anticipated rivalries.