Lewandowski: Spain’s young team can win ‘another World Cup’ after 2026 triumph over Argentina

Spain’s 2026 World Cup winners have the potential to lift the trophy again, according to Robert Lewandowski, who has revealed he was openly backing La Roja – against Lionel Messi’s Argentina – in the final.

The Chicago Fire and former Barcelona striker spoke to ESPN after Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, a result that secured a second world title for the European side.

Lewandowski praised Spain’s dominance and collective spirit, while also offering a candid assessment of the spectacle and the performance of teenage star Lamine Yamal, who was returning from a long injury lay-off.

‘Spain were superior and could have won by more’

Lewandowski, who was pictured celebrating Ferran Torres’s winning goal alongside Spanish greats David Villa, Iker Casillas, Fernando Llorente and Xavi, said Spain had been clearly on top throughout the match.

Speaking to ESPN, he said: “لم تكن المباراة النهايية الاكثر اثارة. كانت ارضية الملعب بطيية، ولم تكن هذه افضل طريقة للعب. كانت اسبانيا متفوقة، وكان بامكانها الفوز بالمباراة مبكرا او بفارق اهداف اكبر”.
(“It wasn’t the most exciting final. The pitch was slow and it wasn’t the best way to play. Spain were superior and could have won the match earlier or by a bigger margin.”)

He highlighted Spain’s control of possession and game management as the decisive factors in a contest that did not always deliver on drama but underlined their tactical maturity.

وتابع: “سيطروا على مجريات اللعب طوال الوقت، واستحوذوا على الكرة باستمرار. كنت اشجع اسبانيا، لانني قضيت سنوات في برشلونة ولي العديد من الاصدقاء هناك، لذا دعمتهم بشدة. اما من الارجنتين، فقد كنت اشجع ميسي فقط، لكنه فاز بالفعل بكاس العالم الاخيرة، ولهذا السبب تمنيت فوز اسبانيا”.
(“They controlled the game all the time and constantly kept the ball. I was supporting Spain because I spent years in Barcelona and I have many friends there, so I backed them strongly. As for Argentina, I was only supporting Messi, but he already won the last World Cup, and that’s why I wanted Spain to win.”)

‘A young team’ with the potential for more titles

Lewandowski believes the current Spain squad is only at the beginning of its cycle and has the quality and age profile to compete for more major honours beyond 2026.

وزاد: “انه فريق شاب، ولا يزال بامكانه الفوز بكاس عالم اخرى. استمتعت بكرة القدم وفوز اسبانيا”.
(“It’s a young team and they can still win another World Cup. I enjoyed the football and Spain’s victory.”)

Spain’s success, he suggested, rests not only on technical ability but on a strong dressing-room culture and selfless work across all positions – from defence and midfield control to creativity in attack.

Lamine Yamal’s difficult World Cup return

Lewandowski also addressed the displays of Lamine Yamal, the highly rated Spanish prodigy whose performances have drawn global attention since breaking through at Barcelona.

كما اتيحت له الفرصة للحديث عن اداءلامين يامالفي بطولة العالم : “لم يقدم افضل اداء له، لكن الامر كان صعبا للغاية. كان يتعافى من اصابة ابعدته عن الملاعب لمدة ثمانية اسابيع، ثم لم يتمكن من التدرب كثيرا بسبب المباريات التي كانت تخوضها كل ثلاثة ايام”.
(“He didn’t produce his best performance, but it was extremely difficult. He was recovering from an injury that kept him out for eight weeks, and then he couldn’t train much because of the matches being played every three days.”)

Lewandowski framed Yamal’s World Cup campaign as part of a longer development path rather than a final verdict on his potential, stressing the physical and mental demands on a teenager returning from injury into the intensity of a global tournament.

‘Team spirit’ the key to Spain’s World Cup glory

In his closing remarks, Lewandowski underlined what he sees as Spain’s greatest strength – a unified squad in which individuals raise each other’s level.

وختم: “الميزة في اسبانيا هي روح الفريق الواحد، وقد ساعدوا لامين على الفوز، كما ساهم هو بدوره في فوز الفريق”.
(“The advantage in Spain is the team spirit, and they helped Lamine to win, and he in turn contributed to the team’s victory.”)

As Spain celebrate their second World Cup crown, Lewandowski’s verdict casts them not just as worthy champions of 2026, but as serious contenders to dominate the international stage for years to come.