Spain defeats Argentina to win World Cup

Spain has held the blueprint for modern soccer for years. Now, they have the trophies to show for it.

La Roja became world champions after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Ferran Torres’ 106th-minute winner settled a tense, tactical contest and delivered Spain’s second men’s World Cup, 16 years after Andrés Iniesta’s gamewinner in Johannesburg.

“The goal was for 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population. “[I]t wasn’t just mine or from the 26 players here. I believe that today’s outcome was written in the stars.”

Spain is the first-ever country to simultaneously hold both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles, with the women’s win in 2023.

Spain dictated the tempo from the opening whistle — with 68 per cent of possession and 20 shots to Argentina’s three.

Captain Rodri orchestrated play from midfield with a composure that is synonymous with his game. He capped the final by winning the Golden Ball, awarded to the best player of the tournament.

Lionel Messi, who may have played his last World Cup match at 39, searched for pockets of space alongside Julián Alvarez, but Spain rarely allowed them time on the ball. Messi touched the ball 54 times in 120 minutes — zero touches inside the opponent’s penalty box — and didn’t make his first shot until the 117th minute.

“The pain is ⁠immense and it’s ⁠going to take a long ‌time for this wound to heal,” Messi wrote on social media.

When the match entered extra time — with no shots from Argentina — Spain finally found their moment.

In the 106th minute, the ball broke inside the penalty area to substitute Torres against a 10-man Argentina. The forward kept his composure, firing a first time finish beyond Martínez before wheeling away in celebration.

As the minutes ticked away, Argentina pushed, but Spain’s defence refused to crack. After 120 minutes of play, La Roja took home the crown.

The tournament also reinforced the arrival of a new generation.

“I feel especially proud of this generation of footballers who have grown with this idea, making it better and giving us an example of a group, of a family,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

Yamal, 19, looked completely at home on football’s biggest stage, and Pau Cubarsi won the FIFA Young Player award for his performance. Alongside Pedri, the attackers showed the depth of talent in Spanish football and La Masia, FC Barcelona’s youth academy.

As fireworks exploded above MetLife Stadium and Rodri lifted the World Cup into the New Jersey sky, Spain celebrated more than a single victory — they celebrated a footballing era.