Spain are world champions as Torres ends Argentina’s reign in extra time

Spain are the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with substitute Ferran Torres firing home from Nico Williams’ assist just 39 seconds into the second half of extra time.

Spain generated 20 shots to Argentina’s two across 120 minutes, but Emiliano Martínez made 11 saves to set a new record for a World Cup final. Argentina did not manage a single shot in normal time – the first team in history to do so in a World Cup final.

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal both went close in normal time, while Rodri and Dani Olmo controlled the midfield without ever finding the killer pass. Argentina offered nothing going forward, content to sit deep and rely on Martínez.

The match turned in the third minute of second-half stoppage time when Enzo Fernández – already booked for dissent – received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí. He became only the sixth player sent off in a World Cup final, and the third Argentine, after Pedro Monzón and Gustavo Dezotti in 1990.

[See more: Saka hat-trick gives England bronze as Mbappe breaks World Cup goals record]

Torres delivers

Spain pushed relentlessly through extra time. In the 106th minute, Pedro Porro lifted the ball to the back post, Nico Williams beat his man to head it back into the danger area, and Torres – on as a 62nd-minute substitute – rifled a low shot past Martínez from eight yards. It was his first goal of the tournament.

Torres was only the second substitute to score the winning goal in a World Cup final, after Mario Götze in 2014,  also against Argentina. He told Fox Sports afterwards that “I just saw the ball coming to me and I shot with the power of all the Spanish people.”

It is Spain’s second World Cup title, their first since 2010, and completes a remarkable double alongside their Euro 2024 triumph. Spain stretched their unbeaten run to 38 matches. Luis de la Fuente’s side started the tournament with a draw against Cabo Verde and grew into the tournament’s best side.

For Messi, Argentina’s attempts amounted to just two shots across 120 minutes, his first came in the 117th minute. Whether Sunday was his last World Cup appearance remained unanswered at full-time.

Mbappe is confirmed as the tournament’s Golden Boot winner with 10 goals, two more than Messi’s eight.