Spain FIFA World Cup records: Titles, finals, wins, goals and historic milestones

Lionel Messi's Argentina will face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday as the first-ever 48-team edition of the tournament reaches its climax at New York New Jersey Stadium.

The defending champions are bidding to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup, while Spain are chasing their second title after winning their maiden crown in 2010.

The final is also expected to mark Messi's last appearance at a FIFA World Cup, bringing the curtain down on a career that has established him as one of football's greatest players.

Spain's World Cup records

Spain head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with several records already secured and others within touching distance.

• Spain are unbeaten in 37 international matches, equalling the longest unbeaten run in men's international football. Since a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in March 2024, La Roja have won 27 matches and drawn 10.
• Lamine Yamal has completed 30 successful dribbles at the tournament, the highest by any player at the 2026 World Cup. Diego Maradona still holds the record for the most successful take-ons in a single World Cup (53 in 1986), while Lionel Messi's 46 in 2014 remains the best tally this century.
• Goalkeeper Unai Simón has kept six clean sheets in seven matches, the most by any goalkeeper in a single FIFA World Cup. The previous record of five clean sheets was jointly held by Jan Jongbloed (1974), Walter Zenga (1990), Taffarel (1994), Fabien Barthez (1998), Oliver Kahn (2002), Gianluigi Buffon (2006) and Iker Casillas (2010).
• Simón also set a new World Cup record by going 650 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, surpassing Walter Zenga's previous mark of 517 minutes. He enters the final with the tournament's best save percentage at 93%.
• Having conceded just one goal so far, Spain could set a new record for the fewest goals conceded by a World Cup-winning team. France (1998), Italy (2006) and Spain (2010) each conceded two goals en route to lifting the trophy.
• Mikel Oyarzabal has scored five goals at the 2026 World Cup, equalling Spain's single-edition scoring record set by Emilio Butragueño (1986) and David Villa (2010). With six goal contributions, Oyarzabal is also level with Villa for the most by a Spanish player in a single World Cup.

Spain FIFA World Cup Record at a Glance

World Cup appearances

• 17 (1934, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026)

Host nation

• Hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1982

Best finish

• Champions (2010)

Overall World Cup record

• Matches: 74
• Wins: 37
• Draws: 18
• Losses: 19

Goals

• Goals scored: 121
• Goals conceded: 76
• Goal difference: +45

Most World Cup appearances by a Spanish player

• 17 matches each:
  • Iker Casillas (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
  • Sergio Ramos (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
  • Sergio Busquets (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)

Spain's all-time World Cup top scorer

• David Villa – 9 goals (2006, 2010, 2014)

Most goals by a Spanish player in a single World Cup

• 5 goals:
  • Emilio Butragueño (1986)
  • David Villa (2010)
  • Mikel Oyarzabal (2026)

Spain's FIFA World Cup finishes

Year	Result
2026	Finalists
2022	Round of 16 (lost to Morocco on penalties)
2018	Round of 16 (lost to Russia on penalties; Fair Play Award)
2014	Group stage
2010	Champions (Fair Play Award; Iker Casillas won Golden Glove)
2006	Round of 16 (lost to France; shared Fair Play Award with Brazil)
2002	Quarter-finals (lost to South Korea on penalties)
1998	Group stage
1994	Quarter-finals (lost to Italy)
1990	Round of 16 (lost to Yugoslavia after extra time)
1986	Quarter-finals (lost to Belgium on penalties)
1982	Second group stage (hosts)
1978	Group stage
1974	Did not qualify
1970	Did not qualify
1966	Group stage
1962	Group stage
1958	Did not qualify
1954	Did not qualify
1950	Fourth place
1938	Did not participate (Spanish Civil War)
1934	Quarter-finals (lost to eventual champions Italy in a replay after a 1-1 draw)
1930	Did not enter

Spain's World Cup milestones

• First World Cup appearance: 1934
• Only World Cup title: 2010 (South Africa)
• Best pre-2010 finish: Fourth place (1950)
• Current streak of consecutive World Cup appearances: 13 (since 1978)
• Hosting edition: Spain hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup.