Spain plans special attention for Messi in World Cup final, but no single marker

Spain's national football team coach, Luis de la Fuente, revealed his strategy for the upcoming World Cup final, emphasizing that while Lionel Messi will receive "special attention," no single player will be tasked with exclusively marking the Argentine star. De la Fuente shared this approach during a press conference on Friday.

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We put a player to mark him, but in the 70th minute, I substituted the player because he had received a yellow card. It was 0-0, and in just 15 minutes, Messi scored four goals against us.

Recounting a past encounter from his time coaching Sevilla's youth team against Barcelona, de la Fuente described how a specific player was assigned to mark a young Messi. However, this strategy proved ineffective. "We put a player to mark him, but in the 70th minute, I substituted the player because he had received a yellow card. It was 0-0, and in just 15 minutes, Messi scored four goals against us," de la Fuente recalled. This experience has led him to adopt a different approach for the final.

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But we must be on alert and keep a very close eye – definitely.

"But we must be alert and keep a very close eye – definitely," he added, indicating that while a man-marking strategy is out, vigilance and collective defensive efforts will be key. Messi, at 39, has delivered a series of top performances for Argentina, carrying the team to the final. He is currently tied with Kylian Mbappé as the tournament's top scorer with eight goals, and has one more assist than the French player.

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Messi is unique.

De la Fuente praised Messi as "unique" and "a role model for young athletes" due to his attitude and behavior, especially considering his performance at this stage of his career. The Spanish coach also addressed the extended halftime break planned for the final, noting that his team is prepared to adapt. He speculated that such longer breaks, along with the "drinking breaks" implemented during this World Cup, might become standard practice in football in the coming years, suggesting a potential evolution in the sport's regulations and pacing.

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He is a role model for young athletes, when it comes to attitude and behavior - especially in light of the spectacular World Cup he is playing at his age.