Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup title after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in a dramatic final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, ending Lionel Messi’s hopes of adding another historic chapter to his remarkable World Cup journey.
In a final dominated by tension, defensive discipline and missed opportunities, Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike proved decisive as Spain completed a stunning tournament campaign with yet another global crown. The victory marked Spain’s second World Cup triumph, adding another golden chapter to a footballing era that has already delivered unforgettable success.
For Argentina, the defeat brought a painful conclusion to a tournament filled with resilience, drama and emotional moments. Messi, playing what could be his final World Cup match, fought until the final whistle but could not inspire another comeback for the reigning champions.
The match appeared destined for a penalty shootout after 105 minutes of relentless battle, with Spain controlling possession and Argentina relying on goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez’s extraordinary heroics. But Spain finally broke the deadlock early in the second period of extra time.
Torres’ 106th-minute winner came after a brilliant sequence of attacking football. Lamine Yamal began the move by releasing Pedro Porro, whose cross eventually reached Nico Williams near the byline. The winger produced a clever header into the path of Torres, who finished calmly with a first-time strike to send the Spanish supporters into celebration.
The goal was Torres’ first of the 2026 World Cup, but it arrived at the most important possible moment — delivering Spain the trophy after a tournament in which they had been almost impossible to break down.
Argentina’s task became even harder after Enzo Fernández was sent off late in extra time after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Pau Cubarsi. Reduced to 10 players, Argentina continued to chase an equaliser, with Messi refusing to surrender.
The Argentine captain pushed forward in search of one final magical moment. From a corner, Messi played a short pass before receiving the ball back and sending a curling delivery toward the far post that almost found its way into the net. Moments later, Giuliano Simeone had a golden opportunity inside the box after another Messi corner, but his first-time effort flew over the crossbar.
The Argentina goalkeeper, Martinez, made several crucial saves, including denying Yamal and keeping out multiple Spanish efforts before Torres finally found the breakthrough.
The defeat ended Argentina’s dream of becoming the first back-to-back world champions since Brazil’s achievements in 1958 and 1962. For Messi, it was a heartbreaking finish to what had been another extraordinary World Cup campaign, but his legacy remained untouched after years of carrying Argentina to international glory.
