Merino: Arsenal star reveals common ground with Lautaro ahead of World Cup Final | OneFootball

Mikel Merino admits he and Lautaro Martinez find themselves in a similar situation ahead of the World Cup Final: ‘For no player is starting on the bench the ideal game plan.’

Merino’s Spain and Lautaro Martinez’s Argentina meet in the World Cup Final tomorrow, Sunday, July 19.

The Spanish midfielder spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the game, admitting that he and Lautaro might not start.

“For no player is starting on the bench the ideal game plan,” he said.

Merino: Lautaro and I have one thing in common ahead of World Cup Final

“However, both Lautaro and I, as top players, find ourselves in this situation because we are part of incredibly strong national teams.

“And both he and I must value all of this: the level of our teammates and the magnitude of the competition.”

Lautaro scored the winning goal as a substitute in the semi-final against England earlier this week, while Merino scored twice coming off the bench, delivering victories against Portugal in the Round of 16 and Belgium in the quarter-finals.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 15: Lautaro Martinez #22 of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Spain have only conceded one goal at the World Cup, scored by Atalanta and Belgium attacker Charles De Ketelaere.

“It’s about trying to help out every time you step onto the pitch, and if you don’t play, it’s fine even in training,” Merino continued.

“Because if you win a title, it belongs to everyone, not just the 11 who start the matches, and that’s how we see it here.”

Talking about tomorrow’s final, Merino added: “It will be an intense match, as a final should be, where two teams are playing for the most important trophy in our sport. It’s normal for there to be contact, for there to be fierce duels, because when so much is at stake, that’s how you have to approach it.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Mikel Merino of Arsenal passes the ball whilst under pressure from Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“It will be up to the referee to control the intensity and frequency of the challenges. We like the ball to move quickly, and without pauses, and if we manage that, the opponent will have less time to foul.”

Inevitably, the Arsenal midfielder also answered a question about Lionel Messi: “I can start by saying he’s one of the best in history. Then, you have to take your hat off to what he’s doing in this World Cup, at 39 years old.

“I don’t know if it will be his last international match or his last final, because, as it has already happened with Cristiano Ronaldo, you face these players and you think they are eternal, given they continue to play at such a high level.

“The fact that we are facing Argentina, the reigning World Cup champion, is an added incentive. Sensational.”

Spain have matched Italy’s unbeaten record, having not suffered any defeat in the previous 37 matches across all competitions.

This means that if they beat Argentina tomorrow, they’ll beat the record the Azzurri set between 2018 and 2021.