World Cup 2026 review: Spain triumph, Messi settles the ‘GOAT’ debate, Tuchel flops | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup is in the record books and ended with the right winners after a cagey final in New Jersey.

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 to claim the title for the second time and cement their status as the best team on the planet.

Without further ado, read on as we look at some of the key talking points from the tournament.

Spain claim their second World Cup

Spain conceded just one goal in eight games in North America to earn a thoroughly deserved second World Cup title.

They were made to work hard by the defending champions in the final, but their greater quality ultimately helped them get the job done.

Argentina’s ill-discipline eventually caught up with them as midfielder Enzo Fernandez became their third player to be dismissed in a World Cup final.

Spain kept Lionel Messi remarkably quiet, which was a sad way for the greatest player of all-time to exit the tournament.

Champions dominate the team of the tournament

Spain are well-represented in the team of the tournament, accounting for more than half of the players in the line-up.

Spain’s success was built on a defensive unit which was almost impossible to break down.

With Manchester City midfielder Rodri back to his best in front of them, Spain had the perfect foundation on which to build their campaign.

Fernandez gets into our line-up despite blotting his copybook in the final, while Jude Bellingham edges out France star Michael Olise in midfield.

Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Braut Haaland form a fearsome front three having scored 25 goals between them at the tournament.

Controversies abound in FIFA showpiece

The tournament had more than its fair share of controversies, both on and off the field.

Folarin Balogun’s red card scandal, hydration breaks and excessive ticket prices were just the tip of the iceberg at this summer’s World Cup.

There were numerous VAR-related incidents, including two contentious decisions in the quarter-final clash between England and Norway.

Elliot Anderson should be ashamed of the role he played in a disallowed Norwegian goal, while Bellingham’s effort should not have stood after the ball hit an overhead cable.

The disgusting racist attack on Mbappe by a Paraguayan senator during the tournament highlighted that knuckle-draggers are still allowed to walk freely amongst us.

Messi settles the ‘GOAT’ debate

There was no glorious end to Messi’s international career after an incredible World Cup in which he scored eight goals to inspire Argentina to the final.

Age appeared to catch up with Messi at just the wrong time, but that does not detract from what he achieved during the tournament.

Messi’s international record now stands at 125 goals and 68 assists in 207 appearances. He has single-handedly carried the team in many of those games.

In modern-day terms, he has put Cristiano Ronaldo in his place. However, he has also settled the greatest of all-time (GOAT) debate.

Pele is widely regarded as the best player to grace the sport for his exploits with Brazil. Argentina’s Diego Maradona has also laid claim to the crown.

Messi stands head and shoulders above them, not only for what he achieved in club football but also the role he has played for Argentina.

He dragged an average Argentina team to the World Cup title in 2022. But for Fernandez’s dismissal, he may have become a two-time winner.

Despite missing out on another winners’ medal, Messi is the GOAT.

Cape Verde become cult heroes

Cape Verde defied expectations this summer, holding Spain to a goalless draw in the group stage before taking Argentina to extra-time in the last-32.

They also drew with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in the opening phase, making a mockery of talk that they would be out of their depth.

The Blue Sharks came close to pulling off one of the all-time upsets against champions Argentina, fighting back from a goal down twice before losing 3-2 after extra time.

Goalkeeper Vozinha became a viral sensation, racking up millions of new followers on Instagram. He even had a newly-discovered species of sea slug named after him.

Tuchel makes a fool of himself

ITV asked Thomas Tuchel in March 2025 whether England had a clear playing style at the 2024 European Championship.

The reply was unequivocal. “No,” Tuchel said. He subsequently buried former manager Gareth Southgate with the authority of a man destined to win the World Cup.

Fast forward to this summer and there has been little evidence that Tuchel is the right man for the job. In the semi-final against Argentina, he was Southgate with less hair.

Southgate’s lack of tactical acumen was repeatedly exposed in high-stakes games, yet Tuchel made him look like Rinus Michels in Atlanta.

After Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, Argentina were rocking. This was exactly the moment elite-level managers crave.

Tuchel fluffed his lines by making a series of negative substitutions. England had Argentina right where they wanted them, and he blew it.

The defending champions eventually turned the game on its head and left the Three Lions wondering what might have been if Tuchel had been braver.

The manager claimed after the game that he had ‘no regrets’, and quickly reverted to type by blaming everyone but himself.

He spoke about ‘ball possession’ not being in England’s DNA, casually overlooking the fact that he was responsible for picking the squad.

John Stones, Marc Guehi, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Bukayo Saka are comfortable on the ball. England have plenty of other players who fall into the same category.

Unfortunately, Tuchel omitted several of them from the squad, including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Strong arguments could be made for each of them to be left at home, but Tuchel’s suggestion that England don’t have players who are comfortable on the ball is disingenuous.

His comments are even more ridiculous when considering that Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo spent the entire tournament on the bench.

Factor in Adam Wharton’s exclusion, because Jordan Henderson is ‘good in the dressing room’, and Tuchel’s cluelessness is off the scale.

His criticism of England’s Euro 2024 campaign was justified. However, his team did nothing this summer to suggest he is any better than the managers who went before him.

England have plenty of players capable of being game-changers. They need a manager who is willing to be brave. On this summer’s evidence, Tuchel isn’t the answer.