Ferran Torres scored the only goal to hand Spain the 2026 World Cup in a remarkably drab final.
La Roja were the only side eager to play football on the day, and ran out deserved winners in extra time thanks to the Barcelona forward’s heroics. With the victory, they secured back-to-back major trophy wins – and might have ended Leo Messi’s Argentina career with a loss.
Spain set up to play football, while Argentina did not. And while Spain steadily suffocated their opponents over the course of 120 minutes, Argentina did not register a single shot.
Spain enjoyed some bright flurries early. Lamine Yamal was a buzzing presence on the right, and forced a tidy save out of Emi Martinez inside the first 10 minutes. Otherwise, La Roja controlled proceedings without offering much in the way of quality. They were too cautious at times, reluctant to shoot. Marc Cucurella’s lashed shot that skidded just wide of the post was the closest they came.
La Roja were much improved in the second half as they added attacking options. Nico Williams offered much-needed pace on the left. Ferran Torres stretched the defence a bit. But then Emiliano Martinez woke up. The Argentina keeper saw off a late series of Spain attacks with some tidy saves, enough to keep the game deadlocked until extra time.
It was more of the same there. Spain had the majority of the ball. Argentina sat back. And La Roja weren’t clinical enough, missing chance after chance as Martinez made saves aplenty.
Finally, Spain struck. It came in the 106th minute. Nico Williams lept higher than his man at the far post, and knocked the ball down. Torres strode into space and smashed home. There was something of a response. Argentina showed late life, but a heroic block from Pau Cubarsi in front of his own net ensured that there was no late drama in this one. It feels a bit like football won.
