One of the World Cup’s most distinctive traditions is coming to an end. Since 1982 and for more than four decades, Bayern Munich and Inter have consistently had at least one player in every World Cup final. In Sunday’s final (July 19), however, only Inter will continue the streak.

Lautaro Martínez was the man who “sealed” the continuation of the tradition for the “Nerazzurri.” With a header of his own in stoppage time of the semifinal against England, following a perfect cross from Lionel Messi, Argentina secured its spot in the final.

In contrast, Harry Kane—a key player for Bayern Munich last season—failed to score in the semifinal in Atlanta and will have to settle for the third-place match against France, leaving the Bavarians out of the historic run.

There was a reason for this tradition: the frequent presence of Germany and Italy in finals, as well as the enduring dominance of the two clubs in their domestic leagues. From 1982 through 2014, the two countries dominated, with Bayern and Inter consistently supplying talent to their national teams.

In recent years, however, the landscape has changed. Germany has not reached a final since 2014, while Italy has been absent from the World Cup since 2014. Despite this, Bayern remains a powerhouse: It has won 13 of the last 14 league titles, and at the 2026 World Cup, it had 17 players in the tournament, second only to Manchester City.

Inter, after several difficult financial years, has made a strong comeback. With three league titles in the last six years and a spot in the 2025 Champions League final, the club has seven players at this year’s World Cup.

In the final at MetLife Stadium, Lautaro may feel… alone against Spanish dominance. Atlético Madrid has nine players in the tournament—five on Argentina’s roster—while Barcelona has eight internationals on “La Roja.”

*photo source: AP