Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final on Sunday, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time to secure the country’s second men’s title.
According to reports, Torres, a substitute, capitalized on a bouncing ball in the penalty area, striking a left-footed shot under the crossbar to deny Argentina a back-to-back championship. The victory marked Spain’s first World Cup triumph since 2010 and made it the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s titles simultaneously, following the women’s team’s win in 2023.
Spain’s defensive dominance in the tournament
Spain conceded only one goal in eight matches, setting a World Cup record for the fewest goals allowed by a champion. The team extended its unbeaten streak to 38 matches (29 wins, nine draws), surpassing Italy’s previous European record of 37.
Argentina, playing much of the match on the back foot, managed just one shot on target before extra time. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a World Cup final-record 12 saves to keep his team in contention.
Messi’s final World Cup appearance
Lionel Messi, who had indicated this would be his last World Cup, was visibly emotional after the match. “They were better, to be honest,” Messi said, according to post-match comments. Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card, leaving the team with 10 players for the final moments.
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, 65, became the oldest manager to win a World Cup. “We are world champions,” he stated. “It was together we reached this stage.”
Historical context and next steps
The 2026 World Cup, a 48-team tournament hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, concluded with Spain’s victory. The match featured a halftime show and drew global attention, with an estimated 2 billion viewers worldwide.
Spain’s win prevents Argentina from becoming the first team since Brazil (1958, 1962) to win consecutive men’s World Cups. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the result, stating, “The other team was better.”
