Argentina returned most of their aging starters from their WC win 4 years ago. It wasn't just Messi that was older, they had the oldest roster combined of any World Cup Final team in history and the oldest of any World Cup Final i team since 1962. Argentina is like Brazil. They grow soccer players, but are 8 years away from their talented youth (and they have bucket loads in the pipeline) come of age. Spain and France will be big favs in 2030. Spain had a young roster and sets on bucket loads of talent along with France. Messi is the best to ever play the game. Argentina lost to a better team and actually did a remarkable job to keep it that close for that long. The physicality, extra bumps, pushes, and shoves by Argentina was a brilliant move to try and offset Spains speed and youthful legs. It largely and remarkable kept it way closer than it should have been. They tried to frustrate Spain with the physical play, but Spain buckled up and wasn't intimidated. Spain has some youthful super talented and little guys. Spain is smaller than Argentina in size and stature, but those young men battled and did their thing. Used their speed and skill and dominated the game.