Torres wins World Cup for Spain, no shot on goal for 10-man Argentina
· Yahoo Sports
Substitute Ferran Torres fired Spain to their second men's World Cup title after a 1-0 extra-time win over 10-man holders Argentina on Sunday, as a bumper tournament full of flair ended with a scrappy final.
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The Spanish dominated chances and possession, with the combative South Americans not having a single effort on goal in 120 minutes.
A second booking by Enzo Fernandez in injury time meant Argentina faced extra-time with 10 men and Spain thought they had scored through Nico Williams, but the referee blew for a contested foul.
The European champions would not be denied, though, as Williams headed a cross back for Torres to thump home on 106 minutes as Spain became world champions in both the women's and men's game.
Torres said: "God gives things to those who deserve them most. Argentina set the tone for this sort of match, especially after the sending-off, but I kept my cool."
The defeat is almost certainly the end of Lionel Messi's World Cup career aged 39 after the football great failed to inspire his defensive side to a successful defence of their 2022 title.
Messi, the second man to play in three World Cup finals after Brazil's Cafu, was peripheral throughout the game and did little defensively on a criticized pitch. He lost out to France's Kylian Mbappé in the all-time World Cup scoring charts and the 2026 list.
Spain added World Cup glory to their European title from two years' ago, just like they did in 2010 - also 1-0 in extra-time over the Dutch - having won Euro 2008.
Luis de la Fuente's side have conceded just one goal in this expanded tournament, breaking World Cup records along the way.
De la Fuente said: "I’m very moved, looking back and thinking about them, we’ve won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players."
Spain were meant to play Argentina in March in the Finalissima - a clash between the European and South American champions - but the game in Qatar was cancelled due to the Iran war.
The pair finally got to meet on Sunday in New Jersey, the first time two continental champions have met in a World Cup final.
Both had struggled in early rounds against tournament debutants Cape Verde in the biggest ever 48-team, 104-match World Cup spread over the US, Mexico and Canada. But their pedigree prevailed in contrasting fashions, physical Argentina needing late goals and Spain's tight defence sending them through to the final.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made three changes from the late comeback win over England in the semi-final, with 2022 penalty hero Gonzalo Montiel, Rodrigo De Paul and Nico Gonzalez all coming in.
Eight of the line-up also started the final four years' ago when they beat France on penalties after a 3-3 draw in a very different game.
De la Fuente meanwhile kept the same team which stunned favourites France 2-0 in the last four.
Messi peripheral
Lamine Yamal, 19 last Monday and still finding his fitness after hamstring trouble, tested Argentina's Emiliano Martínez early on.
Spain's King Felipe VI was watching in the stands like US President Donald Trump and a host of A-listers, but Argentinian President Javier Milei stayed home due to superstition.
Spain, who had a day more to prepare but had their last training session ruined by thunder, were on top in the first half as more threatened storms failed to materialize to affect the final.
Spain had two decent chances before the break through Mikel Oyarzabal's shot and Marc Cucurella's effort.
Argentina centre half Lisandro Martínez had to come off injured for veteran Nicolás Otamendi before the interval, which was extended due to a first ever World Cup final half-time show.
Defensive midfielder Leandro Paredes replaced Gonzalez for the second half and soon earned a booking and was lucky to avoid another later.
Álex Baena had a quick shot saved for slick Spain but scrappiness returned and both teams made more changes around the hour.
Olmo's shot was spilled by Martínez as Spain kept building pressure and substitutes Torres and Pedri were also denied by the keeper. Mikel Merino, who scored late Spanish winners in the last-16 and quarter-finals, was then introduced with Williams on 75.
Spain pushed but Aymeric Laporte was the latest to head straight at the keeper while Torres, Rodri, Williams and Yamal went close.
It was all Spain but Argentina's defensive resolve forced extra-time, although a mindless second booking for Fernandez meant they faced 30 minutes more with 10 men.
Williams' header did not get past Martínez and the winger soon had the ball in the net, but the referee blew for a debatable foul.
Merino then flashed a header just wide but Spain did not have to wait much longer as Torres found the breakthrough.
La Albiceleste suddenly came to life right at the end of extra-time but La Roja clung on - and had to deal with Argentina scuffles after the final whistle.
Media reports initially said Paredes was shown a red card after the end but FIFA did not confirm.
"We're great in victory and in defeat, we showed we know how to lose," Scaloni, also the victorious 2022 coach, controversially said.
Trump tried to get in the way again, just as he did at the Club World Cup last year, as Spain lifted the trophy with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino keen to usher him away.
But Spain's glory was all theirs and they danced in delight with player of the tournament Rodri at the centre of it all.
Spain's Ferran Torres and Argentina's Lionel Messi embrace after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina at New York–New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Tom Weller/dpaSpain's Ferran Torres celebrates their victory at the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina at New York–New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpaSpain's Ferran Torres (R) celebrates victory with his teammates after the final whistle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina. Tom Weller/dpaSpain's Rodri (C) holds the FIFA World Cup Trophy following the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New York–New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpaSpain's Rodri (C) holds the FIFA World Cup Trophy following the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New York–New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpaSpain's Rodri (C) lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New York–New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa