Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup title after defeating Argentina 1-0 in an intense extra-time final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
The Spaniards dominated the contest from start to finish but had to wait until the 106th minute before breaking Argentina’s stubborn resistance. Barcelona winger Ferran Torres emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal to hand Spain a historic victory.
Spain controlled possession and created numerous chances throughout the match, registering 20 shots compared to Argentina’s two. Despite their dominance, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side in contention for much of the encounter.
Argentina’s hopes suffered a major setback late in normal time when midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, leaving the defending champions to play extra time with 10 men.
The breakthrough eventually came when Pedro Porro delivered a cross to the back post, where Nico Williams brilliantly kept the ball in play before Ferran Torres fired past Martínez to send the Spanish players and supporters into celebration.
Argentina barely threatened Spain’s goal throughout the match, with their first attempt on target coming in the closing stages of extra time. Lionel Messi, playing what is expected to be his final World Cup match, found little space as Spain’s disciplined defence kept the veteran forward quiet.
Tempers flared after the final whistle as players from both teams clashed. Argentina’s Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes were involved in heated confrontations, with Paredes receiving a red card after shoving Spain midfielder Gavi during the altercation.
Despite the defeat, Messi, 39, was widely praised for inspiring Argentina’s run to the final after difficult knockout victories over Egypt and England. However, Spain’s youthful energy, quick passing, and relentless pressing proved too much for the South American side.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni admitted his team had been second best on the night.
“They were the better side, that’s the truth,” Scaloni said after the match. “I will always cherish what this team has achieved and the effort it took to reach this stage.”
An emotional Scaloni later broke down during his post-match press conference while reflecting on his players’ journey.
The final also featured the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show, with performances from global music stars including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and Coldplay. Football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo also took part in the entertainment, alongside a tribute to the late Brazilian icon Pelé.
Earlier in the tournament, England secured third place with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France, their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.
France captain Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals, winning the Golden Boot for the second consecutive World Cup. He also became the competition’s all-time leading scorer with 22 World Cup goals.
The expanded 48-team tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, overcame early concerns over logistics, costs and weather conditions to deliver an exciting month of football, culminating in Spain’s memorable triumph over Argentina.
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