Sunday's World Cup final brings together two continental champions — holders Argentina and European title-holders Spain. But beyond the narrative, what do the statistics actually reveal? Here is what the numbers say heading into the showpiece in Lusail.

Argentina's clinical edge in front of goal

With 19 goals to their name, Argentina are the tournament's top scorers — and their finishing has been the difference. They have now netted at least two goals in each of their last 13 World Cup matches, a run stretching back to their shock 2-1 group-stage defeat to Saudi Arabia four years ago.

Spain have taken more shots overall yet trail Argentina by six goals. The European side have been average finishers by xG standards, scoring 13 goals against an expected figure of 13.3. Argentina, meanwhile, have scored five times from outside the box; Spain have managed none from distance.

Inside the box, the gap is far narrower — Argentina have scored only one more goal than Spain from close range — but their willingness to shoot from long range has made them a consistently greater threat.

Spain's defensive record defies belief

If Argentina lead in attack, Spain have been in a category of their own at the back. Luis de la Fuente's side have conceded just one goal at this World Cup — in their 2-1 quarter-final win against Belgium — six fewer than Argentina's seven.

More remarkably, Spain have posted the lowest defensive xG of any team at this tournament overall, at just 2.1 — even though they have played more games than 44 of the other participating nations. Uruguay's 2.4 is the next-lowest figure, and they were eliminated in the group stage.

Against France in the semi-finals, Spain barely allowed the opposition's formidable front four a chance to breathe, conceding only the most difficult of opportunities. The shot map tells its own story: no big chances given away, no big dots on the map.

Running the distance

Argentina have covered 13.5 kilometres more in total than Spain — but that is entirely explained by their two bouts of extra time. On a per-90-minutes basis, Spain have actually run and sprinted more. Only Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay — who won possession in the final third 7.7 times per 90 — have pressed higher with greater intensity.

Argentina, by contrast, have been outrun by every single opponent they have faced at this tournament — a combined deficit of 17 kilometres — yet have won every match. Their more measured approach may in fact be an advantage come Sunday; having rested key players in their final group-stage win over Jordan, they should arrive in reasonable physical shape.

Crossing and aerial duels

Spain have put in more crosses overall, but Argentina have increasingly relied on the delivery as the tournament has progressed. After attempting just 13 crosses in open play across their first four games, Argentina produced 51 in their following three fixtures — including the cross from which Lautaro Martinez headed the winner against England.

Spain hold the best aerial duel success rate at the tournament, giving them an advantage in the air. The two sides are closely matched in overall duels, which means Argentina have been marginally more effective on the ground.

Yamal and Messi carry the dribble burden

Neither side ranks among the tournament's most adventurous dribblers — 25 teams have attempted more dribbles per 90 minutes than Spain. Argentina have dribbled even less frequently, though only Croatia (63 percent) have a better success rate when they do attempt to go past opponents.

Yet two players have bucked that collective trend entirely. Between them, Argentina and Spain have attempted 209 dribbles at this World Cup, and Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi account for 90 of those — 43 percent. Yamal leads all players in dribble attempts at the tournament, and only he and Brazil's Vinicius Jr (42 attempts) have taken on defenders more often than Messi.