Spain are world champions for the second time. Ferran Torres’ goal 37 seconds into the second half of extra time settled a tense, scrappy final as Argentina finally ran out of resistance.
It was a fitting end to a tournament Spain had dominated throughout. They outplayed the defending champions for long stretches, but it took a moment of quality from Torres, latching onto Nico Williams’ knockback from Porro’s cross to rifle into the roof of the net, to separate two sides who had cancelled each other out for 105 frustrating minutes.
Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 ended with Gio Simeone’s header blazing over Simon’s crossbar in the dying seconds of extra time.
Tactical battle dominates goalless first half
The occasion weighed heavily on the opening exchanges. Argentina, knowing this was almost certainly Lionel Messi’s last World Cup match, set up to frustrate and disrupt rather than dominate.
Spain had the better of the half without creating anything clear-cut. Yamal’s fifth-minute deflected effort was comfortably gathered by Emiliano Martinez, and Oyarzabal forced the goalkeeper into a sharp low save on 39 minutes after Rodri and Fabian Ruiz combined neatly.
Argentina were even more toothless. They failed to register a single shot in the first half – the first time on record any side had gone without one in a World Cup final – with Messi managing just two touches in the opening 20 minutes.
Lisandro Martinez was forced off with injury before the break, bringing Otamendi into a defence that was already struggling to contain Spain’s movement.
The half-time shoW featuring Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS may well have been the most exciting 30 minutes of the interval.
Fernandez red card rocks Argentina
The decisive moment of normal time came in the 90th minute. Enzo Fernandez, already booked for simulation, clattered recklessly into Cubarsi chasing a loose ball and was shown a straight red card.
Argentina, who had heroically clung on through 90 minutes with ten men threatening, now faced extra time a man down against the tournament’s most suffocating side.
Emiliano Martinez had been extraordinary throughout. His ten saves in the final set a record for any goalkeeper in a World Cup final since 1966, producing stops of the highest order to deny Torres, Laporte and Yamal.
Williams had a goal ruled out in the opening minutes of extra time for Merino’s foul on Otamendi in the build-up, a VAR intervention that drew fury from the Spanish bench but was ultimately the correct call.
Merino himself came within inches of breaking the deadlock moments later, his glancing header from Williams’ delivery drifting just wide of the right post.
Torres wins it, Spain hold on
The breakthrough came immediately after the restart for the second half of extra time. Porro’s searching ball to the back post found Williams, who showed brilliant technique to steer it into Torres’ path.
The Barcelona forward needed no second invitation, rifling a left-footed strike into the roof of the net. Spain ahead.
Argentina threw everything forward in the final fifteen minutes. Otamendi moved up front. Messi stood over every set-piece.
Simeone blazed the closest chance, a near-post flick from Messi’s corner, over the bar with the goal gaping in the 120th minute.
It was not enough. Merino, bloodied after blocking a Messi shot with his face in the 117th minute, was helped off to a hero’s reception. Spain saw out the remaining seconds, and referee Slavko Vincic blew the final whistle.
Spain are world champions. Yamal, 17 years old and already the most exciting player on the planet, has a World Cup winner’s medal.
For Messi, there are no more mountains to climb. He leaves this tournament with 21 World Cup goals across six tournaments, a record that will stand for generations. On a night Spain deserved to win, his legacy remains untouched.
