Substitute Ferran Torres scored 39 seconds into the second half of extra time as Spain beat a 10-man Argentina 1-0 to lift the World Cup for the second time in the nation’s history, ending Lionel Messi’s dream of a second straight title.
East Rutherford, New Jersey — July 19, 2026
Spain are world champions once again. La Roja beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a tense, dramatic World Cup final at New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, with substitute Ferran Torres striking the decisive blow in the 106th minute to complete Spain’s second World Cup triumph, 16 years after their first in 2010.
A Final Defined by Control — and One Moment of Magic
For long stretches, this final looked set to be remembered for Spain’s total dominance rather than a moment of magic. La Roja controlled possession from the first whistle, racking up 20 shots to Argentina’s two and finishing with an expected-goals tally of 1.94 against Argentina’s 0.20 — one of the most one-sided final scorelines in recent World Cup memory in terms of chances created.
Standing in the way of a rout was Emiliano Martínez, who produced save after save to keep Argentina in the game, ultimately setting a new championship-match record with 11 stops. Spain thought they had broken through when Nico Williams turned the ball home, only for the goal to be ruled out after a foul in the build-up.
The contest turned late. In second-half stoppage time, Argentina’s Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Spain’s Pau Cubarsí, reducing Argentina to 10 men heading into extra time. From there, Spain pressed with renewed urgency, and it was Torres — introduced from the bench — who finally found the breakthrough, thumping home from close range to send the Spanish end of the stadium into delirium.
The End of an Era for Messi
The result brought a bittersweet close to what is widely expected to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup. At 39, Messi could not inspire the fightback Argentina fans had come to expect from him, managing just one shot across 120 minutes — a tame effort that struck an opponent’s face. It was an uncharacteristically quiet night for a player who has defined the tournament’s storylines for two decades, and it means Argentina fall short of becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to defend the World Cup title successfully.
For Spain, it’s a fitting passing of the torch: 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, who entered the tournament carrying huge expectations, played his part in a Spanish generation now with two major titles — the European Championship and the World Cup — to its name in the space of two years.
A Golden Run for De la Fuente’s Side
Spain’s triumph capped a remarkable unbeaten run stretching 37 matches and a tournament in which they conceded just once in seven games — the meanest defensive record of any of the 2026 contenders. Head coach Luis de la Fuente, already the oldest manager to win a World Cup, extended his remarkable record with the national team to 14 wins and one draw since taking charge.
It’s a story of gradual, relentless improvement: Spain opened their World Cup campaign with a modest draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde, hardly the mark of eventual champions, before building into the most complete team of the competition.
Ugly Scenes at the Final Whistle
The drama didn’t end when Torres’ goal went in. Moments after full time, tempers boiled over between the two squads. Argentina’s Leandro Paredes, on as a half-time substitute, confronted Spain’s Eric García and grabbed him by the throat before clashing with Spain substitute Gavi, throwing him to the ground as punches were exchanged. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni rushed onto the pitch to try to separate the players, and it took teammate Thiago Almada physically pulling Paredes away to end the scuffle. Paredes was shown a red card for his part in the incident, becoming the second Argentina player sent off on the day after Enzo Fernández’s dismissal in normal time.
Former England striker Alan Shearer, speaking on the BBC, called the scenes “terrible,” saying there was “no place or space for that” kind of reaction, however painful the defeat.
A Tournament Shadowed by Officiating Complaints
Argentina’s frustration in the final didn’t emerge from nowhere. Their run to the title has been trailed by refereeing controversy since the opening match. In their group-stage opener against Algeria, Messi went unpunished for a studs-first challenge that raked down Aïssa Mandi’s calf — a foul several pundits, including ESPN’s Ale Moreno, argued should have been a straight red card. Algeria’s federation filed a formal complaint to FIFA over the decision, and further flashpoints followed: Austria manager Ralf Rangnick criticized the officiating after an uncalled foul by Alexis Mac Allister preceded Messi’s opening goal in their group match, and Egypt lodged their own complaint after their Round of 16 exit to Argentina, alleging they’d been treated unfairly.
By the time the final arrived, the pattern was well established enough that ESPN’s own VAR review of Sunday’s match noted the Mandi incident should, “in my opinion,” have been a red card — a rare and uncomfortable moment where the record shows Argentina benefiting rather than being victimized by a big decision. It made the sight of Fernández’s sending-off, this time going against Argentina, feel to some like the tournament’s overdue correction; to others, it was simply a correct call on a reckless, late challenge on Cubarsí, unrelated to anything that came before. Either way, few tournaments have sent Argentina’s opponents to FIFA with as many formal complaints as this one.
Final Score
Spain 1-0 Argentina (after extra time) Goal: Ferran Torres 106′ Sent off: Enzo Fernández (Argentina) 90+3′
Spain are the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions.
