BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Ferran Torres scored the most important goal of his career in the 106th minute, lifting Spain to a 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday and ending Lionel Messi’s bid for a second consecutive World Cup title in what could be the legendary forward’s final appearance on the tournament’s biggest stage.
Torres, who entered the match as a substitute, became Spain’s hero when he reacted quickly to a bouncing ball inside the penalty area. With Argentina’s defense struggling to clear the danger, Torres created just enough space to strike with his left foot, sending the ball beneath the crossbar and into the net.
The goal sparked an explosion of celebration from Spain’s players and supporters, delivering the nation its second men’s World Cup championship after its historic triumph in 2010.
“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said afterward, referring to the population of Spain.
The final score suggested a tightly contested match, but the statistics told a very different story. Spain controlled the game for long stretches, dictated possession and consistently pressured Argentina’s defense. The Spanish side recorded the first 20 shots of the match before Argentina managed its first attempt during the second half of extra time.
Spain also dominated the corner-kick count, taking nine of the first 10 corners. Argentina remained in the contest largely because of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, whose record 12 saves in a World Cup final kept the defending champions alive deep into the match.
But even Martinez could not prevent Spain from eventually breaking through.
The victory capped an extraordinary tournament for Spain, which conceded only one goal across eight matches. That defensive record established a new World Cup mark for the fewest goals allowed by a champion, underscoring the balance between Spain’s attacking control and defensive discipline.
The championship also created a unique moment in international soccer. Spain became the first nation to simultaneously hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles, following the women’s team’s championship victory in 2023.
Spain’s victory extended an astonishing unbeaten run that now stands at 38 matches, including 29 wins and nine draws. The streak is the longest ever recorded by a European national team, surpassing Italy’s previous mark of 37 consecutive matches without defeat between 2018 and 2021.
Argentina, meanwhile, was unable to produce the late-match magic that had carried it through earlier stages of the tournament. Messi and his teammates had repeatedly found ways to rally late in matches, but Spain’s organization and control prevented Argentina from generating the same kind of comeback.
Messi came close to helping create one final opportunity. With only a few minutes remaining before the final whistle, he delivered a corner kick that took a fortunate bounce toward substitute Giuliano Simeone. Simeone sent his attempt over the crossbar, leaving Argentina’s players and supporters stunned.
The defeat was particularly painful for Messi, who had already indicated that this could be his final World Cup match. After helping Argentina win the previous tournament, Messi was seeking to become a champion again, but Spain’s dominant performance ended that pursuit.
Spain’s triumph also produced a historic achievement for coach Luis de la Fuente. At 65 years old, he became the oldest coach ever to lead a team to a World Cup championship.
“We are world champions,” de la Fuente said. “It was together we reached this stage.”
The emotional scenes continued after the final whistle. There was brief pushing and shoving between players before the situation quickly calmed. Spain’s squad soon began celebrating its historic achievement while several Argentina players remained on the field, visibly devastated by the defeat.
In a gesture of respect, Spain’s players later formed an honor guard for Argentina’s team as the runners-up walked toward the stage to receive their medals.
Argentina was also forced to finish the match with 10 players after Enzo Fernandez was sent off during stoppage time in the second half. Fernandez received a second yellow card after a reckless challenge sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi tumbling through the air. The referee immediately showed Fernandez the card, leaving Argentina with one fewer player during the closing stages.
The final represented the 104th and last match of the largest World Cup in history. The expanded 48-team tournament was staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, producing more matches and more goals than any previous edition of the competition.
The global spectacle extended far beyond the field. Thousands of spectators packed the stadium, while an estimated audience of up to 2 billion people around the world watched the final.
Among those in attendance were major stars from entertainment, basketball, tennis, football and other sports. Hollywood figures including Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were among the celebrities who watched the match.
The basketball world was also heavily represented, with stars such as Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny James, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton among those attending.
Tennis champions Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were also present, while NFL stars including Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley joined the crowd. Olympic skiing greats Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn were also in attendance.
Soccer legends Kaka, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane added to the gathering of international sporting royalty.
They came expecting a historic final, and Spain delivered one.
After more than 120 minutes of pressure, missed chances, defensive resilience and mounting tension, it was Torres who produced the decisive moment. His extra-time strike secured Spain’s second men’s World Cup title, ended Argentina’s reign as champion and established a new era of dominance for a Spanish team that has now gone more than two years without defeat.
For Spain, the victory was more than another championship. It was a statement that the nation has once again reached the summit of world soccer.
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