EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — July 19, 2026
Spain are champions of the world for a second time. Sixteen years after lifting the trophy for the first time in South Africa, La Roja outclassed Argentina 1-0 in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Ferran Torres striking the decisive blow deep into extra time to complete an unbeaten run to glory.
The match at MetLife Stadium had every ingredient of a classic — the reigning European champions against the defending world champions, a fearless new generation against Lionel Messi’s final World Cup. Yet in the end it became a demonstration of Spanish control so complete that Argentina were unable to register a single shot on target across 120 minutes.
The moment
For all their dominance, Spain could not find a way through in normal time, and the breakthrough only arrived in the 106th minute, at the start of the second period of extra time. Torres delivered the finish the game had been building toward, breaking Argentine hearts to settle a final that had looked destined to be decided by the finest of margins.
By then Argentina were a man short. Enzo Fernández was sent off at the end of normal time for a second bookable offense, and Spain exploited the numerical advantage with the same patient, suffocating passing that had defined their entire tournament.
Total control
Luis de la Fuente kept faith with the settled side that had beaten Belgium, France and everyone else in their path, and his players rewarded him with a near-flawless performance. Spain held roughly two-thirds of possession, peppered the Argentine goal, and never allowed the former champions a clear sight of an equalizer.
Argentina’s best chance came and went inside the opening five minutes, when Julián Álvarez slipped Messi through with only goalkeeper Unai Simón to beat — but Simón raced from his line to smother the danger. It proved to be the story of the night: Messi and his teammates chasing a Spanish side that simply would not surrender the ball.
At the other end, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was magnificent in defeat, producing a string of stops that kept his team alive well into extra time and set a new record for saves in a World Cup final. In the end, even he could not deny Spain.
A new golden generation
Spain arrived as European champions and leave as world champions, having conceded just once in the entire tournament — a defensive record to match their attacking flair. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was central to their triumph, the brightest star of a squad that blends youth and experience and now sits on top of the world.
For Argentina, the result denies them back-to-back titles and brings the curtain down on Messi’s World Cup story. There was drama at the final whistle, too, with tempers flaring as Argentine players confronted their celebrating opponents — a sour footnote to an otherwise commanding Spanish victory.
Sixteen years on from their first, Spain have their second star. And on this evidence, they may not have to wait another sixteen for a third.
