Spain's remarkable 37-match unbeaten run in normal or extra time, equalling Italy's record between October 2018 and September 2021, faces its ultimate test in the World Cup final against Argentina. According to Opta, this streak matches the best such stretch by a European team, though Spain did lose the 2025 Nations League final to Portugal on penalties. Unlike Italy, who were truly unbeaten during their run, Spain's streak includes that penalty shootout defeat.
Historical Context and Comparisons
No South American team has ever gone as long without defeat. Brazil went 36 matches unbeaten between December 1993 and January 1996, winning a World Cup, while Argentina equalled that from July 2019 to November 2022. Argentina's run was ended by a stunning loss to Saudi Arabia in Qatar, but they recovered to become world champions.
Spain's dominance is no surprise given their history. They are responsible for six of the 11 instances of a European nation going unbeaten for at least 25 games, with five of those periods occurring in the last 22 years.
Key Players in the Streak
Fabián Ruiz has represented Spain 49 times without suffering a loss (excluding shootouts), yet he is not even in the top five for most minutes played during the unbeaten run. The leading man has been Marc Cucurella, followed by Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Lamine Yamal, and Mikel Oyarzabal. Manager Luis de la Fuente has used 62 different players in the 37 matches, highlighting depth of talent. Of the 15 players with at least 20 appearances in the run, 10 started the World Cup semi-final, four came on as substitutes, and Martín Zubimendi was an unused option.
Argentina's Form and the Final Clash
Argentina are unbeaten for 14 matches, all wins, but have lost three times since Spain's last defeat. The weight of recent history favours Spain, but the final promises to be a stern test. The streak began after a 1-0 loss to Colombia in March 2024 and includes victories over Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
