East Rutherford: Spain triumphed over defending champions Argentina in a dramatic World Cup final, denying Lionel Messi a second consecutive title and claiming the men’s crown for the second time, AP reported.
Ferran Torres, a second-half substitute, scored the match’s only goal in the 106th minute, a left-foot finish beneath the crossbar that he called “a goal scored by 47 million people.”
Play turned against Argentina late in extra time when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card and was sent off after a tackle that sent Spain’s Pau Cubarsi airborne. Tempers flared after the final whistle, with pushing and shoving between players and a heated exchange involving Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
Messi left the field in tears after the loss. The match marked what he has suggested might be his final World Cup appearance. “I experienced a lot of things on this pitch, good and not so good,” Messi had reflected previously about his international career.
Argentina’s campaign included the 2022 World Cup win and Copa America successes.
Scaloni acknowledged the defeat but praised his team’s effort: “We lost the game, and we accept that… I can tell them that we played our hearts out.”
Spain’s defense held firm to secure the trophy. The champions conceded only one goal across eight matches — a new low for a World Cup-winning team. Coach Luis de la Fuente, 65, celebrated the achievement and the journey: “Accompanying them on this journey is an honour.” His side went unbeaten in 38 matches, surpassing Italy’s previous European record of 37.
Control & Composure
Spain dominated possession and the early chances. They took the first 20 shots on goal and nine of the opening 10 corners, forcing Argentina keeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez into a tournament-record 12 saves in the final.
“Dibu was nothing short of exceptional,” de la Fuente said, crediting the opposition’s goalkeeper for keeping Argentina in the match.
The title also gives Spain an unusual dual distinction: combined with their 2023 Women’s World Cup win, Spain is the first country to hold both men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time. Celebrations erupted across Madrid and other Spanish cities into the early hours.
A Final Full Of Spectacle
The match closed out the expanded 48-team tournament staged across the US, Canada and Mexico, an edition that produced more than 300 goals overall. The final itself paired football drama with a star-studded entertainment lineup — including Madonna, BTS and other acts — and drew roughly 80,000 fans in the stadium and billions on screens worldwide.
Rodri, chosen as the tournament’s best player, summed up the moment: “I think now I’m in a cloud.”
