Spain vs. Argentina final is the 'La Masia Derby' [Lee Jong-seong's Sports Culture & Industry]

*This content was translated by AI.

The 2026 North American World Cup final, set for the 20th (Korean time), will see Spain face Argentina. The matchup between the two teams could even be called the 'La Masia Derby.' La Masia, FC Barcelona's youth academy, is where Spain's national team football philosophy was forged, and Argentina is led by Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami), La Masia's greatest star.

Currently, eight players in the Spanish national team hail from La Masia. Notable graduates include football prodigy Lamine Yamal (19, FC Barcelona), Pau Cubarsí (19, FC Barcelona) who leads Spain's suffocating defense, and left wingback Marc Cucurella (28, Real Madrid), who has excelled in the North American World Cup.

The core of La Masia football training is 'rondo.' Rondo involves several players passing a ball within a circle. Four to five players pass the ball within a confined space while two others attempt to intercept it. Through this, La Masia helps players naturally learn how to utilize teammates around them and make passes even in extreme situations.

At one point, other Spanish clubs mocked La Masia, saying, "They don't train; they just play with the ball." However, La Masia's passing game, which originated from rondo, received praise from football fans worldwide when Spain won its first World Cup title in 2010.

The passing game that began at La Masia remains central to Spanish football even in the North American World Cup. In this tournament, Spain conceded only one goal across seven matches. Of course, this record stems from Spain's superior defensive organization.

However, a closer look at Spain's matches reveals that the source of this record lies in the precise passing ability of its players. Spain is the team with the best ability to escape intense pressure from opponents through passing, even in dangerous areas. Regardless of position, Spanish players are masters of passing.

Spanish football, teeming with passing experts, boasts high ball possession. In six matches during this World Cup (excluding the semi-final against France), Spain's average ball possession exceeded 65%. The reason for Spain's high ball possession was not solely due to their passing ability. After losing the ball to opponents, Spain regained it in just 11.7 seconds, the shortest time among all four teams that reached the World Cup semifinals. Ultimately, Spain's high ball possession meant they spent relatively less time defending, resulting in a lower probability of conceding goals.

Argentina, facing Spain, is undeniably Messi's team. So far, Messi has recorded eight goals and four assists in seven matches of the North American World Cup. In the semi-final against England on the 16th, he provided two decisive assists to lead Argentina to a 2-1 comeback victory.

Messi is La Masia's greatest star ever. He joined La Masia at age 13 and honed his unparalleled skills there. His disadvantages, such as his small stature and physique, did not hinder him in La Masia's technique-focused environment. He became a key player of FC Barcelona's strongest youth team alongside Gerard Piqué (39) and Cesc Fàbregas (39).

He shone even brighter on the senior stage. He led FC Barcelona to the UEFA Champions League title four times. Messi was the protagonist of FC Barcelona's football style, nicknamed 'tiki-taka.' Thus, although Messi's homeland is Argentina, there were even claims that his football nationality is Spain.

Argentine players who revere Messi as a god mostly grew up through baby football, Argentina's indoor youth football culture. Baby football, played indoors with five or seven players, is the optimal program for young athletes to develop their football skills in confined spaces. Countless children from modest backgrounds in Argentina have nurtured their dreams of becoming football players through baby football.

Enzo Fernández (25, Chelsea), who scored the equalizing goal against England, is also a star produced by the baby football system. Fernández benefited from Argentina's unique dense football talent scouting system. Typically, prestigious Argentine clubs scout and nurture promising talents around age seven from various regions across the country. Fernández joined the youth academy of the renowned Argentine club River Plate when he was seven years old.

The philosophy of River Plate's youth academy, where Fernández formally learned football, emphasizes a passing-based style, making it similar to La Masia. In particular, River Plate encourages players to experience attacking football that aims not just for victory but for overwhelming triumph.

Fans will anticipate Spain's beautiful passing game and Messi's elusive performances in the North American World Cup final. However, it may be even more important to examine the processes these players have undergone to reach the highest level of football. For Korean football, which is seeking innovation, building up through player development is essential to score wonderful goals again.

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*This content was translated by AI.