Spain secured their second FIFA World Cup crown after Ferran Torres scored deep into extra time to seal a dramatic 1-0 victory over Argentina, while La Roja also set a new European record with an unbeaten international run stretching to 38 matches.
The final between the world’s top-ranked sides lived up to its billing as a battle of patience and fine margins, with neither team willing to take unnecessary risks in a tense encounter. In the end, Spain’s persistence proved decisive as Torres delivered the moment that separated two elite teams.
Spain started on the front foot and showed little sign of nerves on football’s biggest stage. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was central to their early attacking threat, creating space in an inside-right position before seeing his deflected effort blocked by the legs of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
Despite Spain’s positive start, clear chances were difficult to find during the opening half-hour. The match became increasingly physical, with several refereeing decisions drawing attention, particularly a strong Alexis Mac Allister challenge on Dani Olmo that left the Spanish players frustrated after no card was shown.
Martínez was the busier goalkeeper before the break, although most of his work was comfortable. The Aston Villa goalkeeper moved low to his left five minutes before half-time to collect Mikel Oyarzabal’s long-range effort, while Marc Cucurella came close moments before the interval with a strike that narrowly missed the target.
The opening 45 minutes produced just three shots, setting a record low for a World Cup final first half. A controversial half-time entertainment show added further delay before the two sides returned for the second period.
Spain continued to increase the pressure after the restart, with Martínez forced into a series of important interventions. The Argentina goalkeeper almost gifted Spain the lead in the 64th minute when he spilled Dani Olmo’s long-range effort, but he recovered quickly enough to see the ball roll just wide of the post.
Moments later, Martínez produced another fine save to deny Torres from close range before keeping out a powerful effort from Pau Cubarsí as Spain pushed forward in search of the breakthrough.
Argentina’s task became even harder late in normal time when Enzo Fernández was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card. The midfielder had already been booked for dissent before a late challenge on Cubarsí resulted in another caution, making him only the sixth player sent off in a World Cup final.
Despite playing with ten men, Argentina survived until extra time after Martínez denied Yamal with almost the final kick of the 90 minutes.
Spain thought they had finally broken through five minutes into extra time when Nico Williams reacted quickest to score into an empty net. However, the goal was ruled out after referee Slavko Vinčić identified a foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolás Otamendi during the build-up.
The breakthrough eventually arrived after 106 minutes. Williams’ knockdown fell perfectly for Torres, who reacted quickly inside the penalty area and fired a powerful finish into the roof of the net to finally break Argentina’s resistance.
The victory completed another remarkable chapter in Spanish football history. La Roja have now won six of their last seven major tournament finals and added another international trophy to a golden era of success.
For Argentina and Lionel Messi, however, the defeat brought disappointment. After lifting the World Cup in 2022, they missed the opportunity to become the first team in 64 years to successfully defend the title.
Instead, Spain claimed the glory, while Argentina were left to reflect on a final decided by one moment of quality in extra time.
