Sixteen years later, La Masia returns to the World Cup final

19.07.26 AET World Cup

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The final between Spain and Argentina will be heavily marked by Barça’s influence, with nine players having come through its legendary academy.

Whatever the outcome of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, La Masia will once again be celebrated. Nine players trained at FC Barcelona will take part in Sunday’s showdown: eight with La Roja and Lionel Messi wearing the Albiceleste shirt, as highlighted by the Catalan club.

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On the Spanish side, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Eric García, Alejandro Grimaldo, Gavi, Dani Olmo, and Víctor Muñoz all honed their craft at the Blaugrana academy. Across from them, Messi stands as the sole Argentine representative of this prestigious institution.

This impressive presence recalls Spain’s 2010 triumph. Back then, nine La Masia graduates also featured among the finalists: Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Cesc Fàbregas, Pedro, and Pepe Reina. Sixteen years later, Barça’s academy reaffirms its unique impact on the global game.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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