Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup title with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Argentina after extra time, finally breaking a stubborn defensive display in a tense final.
Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, finishing from close range after a well-worked move involving Pedro Porro and Nico Williams. The breakthrough came after sustained Spanish dominance in a match where they registered 20 shots compared to Argentina’s two.
Argentina’s resistance was weakened late in normal time when Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, forcing his side to play through extra time with 10 men.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez delivered a standout performance to keep Argentina in contention, making several crucial saves before eventually being beaten. Argentina struggled to create chances, with their first shot on target arriving only in the 115th minute through Lionel Messi, whose effort was blocked.
The match ended in controversy, with tensions boiling over after the final whistle. Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes were involved in heated exchanges, with Paredes shown a red card after pushing Gavi.
At 39, Messi may have played his final World Cup match. Despite leading Argentina to the final, he was largely contained by Spain’s disciplined and energetic side.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged Spain’s superiority after the match, calling them the deserved winners while praising his team’s journey to the final.
The tournament, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, featured the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, with performances from global music stars and a tribute to Pelé. England secured third place with a 6–4 win over France, while Kylian Mbappé finished as top scorer and became the competition’s all-time leading goal scorer.
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