Spain are world champions again. Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give La Roja a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, played in front of a packed MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It was a night of raw emotion, tactical discipline, and one moment of individual brilliance that decided football's biggest prize.
A Final Settled in Extra Time
For 105 minutes, two of the best sides in the world cancelled each other out. Argentina, led by their indefatigable captain Lionel Messi playing in what may be his final World Cup match, created chances but found Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon in commanding form. Spain pressed relentlessly, suffocating Argentina through midfield, but lacked the cutting edge to break through in normal time. Then Torres arrived. Collecting a cutback from Nico Williams on the left, the Manchester City forward shifted his body and curled a precise right-footed effort into the bottom corner. The stadium erupted. Argentina threw everything forward in the final minutes but Spain held firm, their defensive unit immaculate to the end.
Spain's Road to Glory
Luis de la Fuente's side were imperious throughout the tournament, winning all seven of their matches without conceding from open play in the knockout rounds. They beat Germany in the quarter-finals and France in a tense semi-final before completing the job against the reigning champions. Their combination of high-energy pressing, technical midfield control and ruthless finishing made them the tournament's standout team from the group stage onwards.
Ferran Torres: The Man of the Moment
Torres has often been criticised for inconsistency at club level, but on the international stage he has repeatedly delivered when it matters most. His extra-time winner in the final adds to a tournament in which he contributed three goals and two assists. The 25-year-old was mobbed by teammates immediately after the ball hit the net, with scenes of pure joy spreading across the Spanish end of the stadium.
Argentina Left Heartbroken Again
For Messi and Argentina, it was a night that ended in tears. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner came close on two occasions but could not find the finish to match his legendary status. His teammates fought until the final whistle and the Argentine nation will be enormously proud of their run to the final, but Spain's night was not to be denied.
Spain's Place in History
With this victory, Spain become the first European nation to win four World Cup titles. It cements their generation as one of the greatest international squads in football history. The celebrations back in Madrid, Barcelona and across the country were instantaneous and enormous.
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