Atlético de Madrid contributes nine players to the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, matching a record previously set by Juventus in 1934. Four players wear the red shirt and five the light blue.
The Atlético de Madrid has become the club with the most representation in a World Cup final since 1934. Up to nine players from the red-and-white team will compete this Sunday for the title at MetLife Stadium between Spain and Argentina, equalling the mark set by Juventus 92 years ago.
Four Atlético Players in the Red, Five in the Light Blue
The Spanish national team includes four Atlético players: Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Álex Baena. Of these, only Baena, recently signed from Bayer Leverkusen, is likely to start. Llorente began in the group stage but has lost prominence, while Pubill and Grimaldo have seen very little playing time.
On the Argentine side, the red-and-white presence is even greater: Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, Thiago Almada, and Julián Álvarez. Molina, Simeone, and Julián were starters in the semi-finals against England, and Almada has been an important player in the tournament. Musso is the only one who has yet to debut in the World Cup.
"It is a source of pride for the club to have so many players in the final. It demonstrates the level of our youth academy and signings," said sources from Atlético de Madrid.
A Record Previously Held by Juventus in 1934
The last time a club contributed nine players to a World Cup final was in 1934, when Juventus had nine men in the Italian eleven that faced Czechoslovakia. That team, managed by Vittorio Pozzo, won the title with players like Gianpiero Combi, Luigi Bertolini, and Raimundo Orsi.
Atlético even surpasses that Juventus in terms of nationalities: while the Italians were all from the same national team, the Atlético players are spread across two squads. Czechoslovakia, by the way, had eleven players from Slavia Prague in their squad, but only eight made it to the final as there were no substitutions back then.
What It Means for Atlético Fans
For Atlético supporters, the final will be a clash of mixed emotions. Nine players from their team will be on the pitch, but divided into two sides. It doesn’t matter who wins: the club has already made history. And if one of their own scores the title-winning goal, the achievement will be even more memorable.
The final takes place on Sunday at 21:00 hours at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match will be broadcast live on La 1 de TVE and on streaming platforms.
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