Spain appear invincible. Their 2-0 win over France extended their run without a defeat in regular or extra time to 37 games, a streak that Opta noted equals the longest ever by a European side. That said, Spain were beaten in the 2025 Nations League final by Portugal in a penalty shootout.
This undefeated sequence mirrors Italy’s record from October 2018 to September 2021, a period that saw Roberto Mancini’s team claim the Euro 2020 title. Unlike Spain, Italy’s run contained no penalty shootout losses.
No South American nation has managed such an extended unbeaten sequence. Brazil strung together 36 matches without losing from December 1993 to January 1996, capturing a World Cup in the process, and Argentina matched that run between July 2019 and November 2022. Although Argentina’s streak ended with a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in Qatar, bouncing back to win the World Cup was a powerful reply.
Given their track record, Spain’s current achievement is hardly unexpected. They account for six of the 11 occasions a European team has gone 25 or more matches without defeat. Five of those spans have come in the past 22 years, underscoring Spain’s dominance over the last two decades.
Some individual players boast even more impressive marks. Fabián Ruiz has appeared 49 times for his national side without experiencing defeat, shootout losses excluded. Even though the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has showcased elite form, he does not top the minutes list during Spain’s unbeaten run; he isn’t among the five most-used players.
Marc Cucurella has been the most utilised, joined by Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal as the five players Luis de la Fuente has relied on most.
De la Fuente has fielded 62 different players across these 37 games, showcasing the remarkable depth of Spanish talent. Could this hint at some indecision? Not really; among the 15 players with at least 20 outings during the run, 10 started the World Cup semi-final, four featured off the bench, and Martín Zubimendi was available as a substitute.
The ten players with the most minutes for Spain during their undefeated streak
Spain’s current undefeated sequence began after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia at the London Stadium in March 2024. The run naturally features wins against smaller European nations in qualifying, but it also includes 11 contests against powerhouse opponents Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
Argentina have now gone 14 games without defeat, all of them victories. However, they have lost three times since Spain last tasted defeat. The momentum of recent form is still squarely with De la Fuente’s squad.
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