The eternal comparison between Spain in 2010 and Spain in 2026

For a thousandth of a second, some saw Ferran Torres, representing Argentina, unleash a shot that Andrés Iniesta turned into a goal, celebrating with the shirt in memory of Dani Jarque, while Iker Casillas, briefly substituting for Rodri Hernández, lifted the World Cup into the sky.

The memory of a historic feat

That excitement of seeing a Spain that marked an era lasted very briefly, according to the text, because football, as is claimed, has no memory. The comparison then arises between the Roja of 2010 and that of 2026, two national teams that have left a mark on the World Cup.

Vicente del Bosque's generation, which won the 2010 World Cup, scored eight goals, the lowest total in the tournament's history, while Luis de la Fuente's in 2026 achieved fourteen, surpassing the 2010 team by two and the 2026 team by one in the final.

Top scorers and goalkeepers

In both squads the top scorer had five goals: David Villa led the attack in 2010 and Mikel Oyarzabal did so in 2026, after three World Cups and two European Championships. In goal, Unai Simón kept seven clean sheets, breaking the unbeaten record with 650 minutes, while Iker Casillas also recorded five matches without conceding in his era.

The results reflect the difference in styles. Spain in 2010 remained unbeaten from its sole defeat to Switzerland (0‑1) in South Africa, up to the Confederations Cup final in 2013, accumulating 24 wins and five draws in 29 matches. The 2026 side, for its part, maintains a streak of 42 games without a loss, with 35 wins and seven draws.

Both generations have built their own identity: the 2010 one was characterized by big names and a style that laid foundations, while the 2026 side has relied on a solid collective that works like a perfect gear.

In the end, the answer to which is better will depend on the time and perspective that history grants to each.