Spain 1-0 Argentina: Ferrán Torres Extra-Time Winner Seals World Cup Glory
By Ali Ammar · goals2026.org
Spain are world champions. A single moment of quality from substitute Ferrán Torres in the 106th minute settled a gruelling, cagey final against Argentina at MetLife Stadium, capping a tournament in which Spain were rarely troubled but found themselves repeatedly denied by a magnificent Argentine goalkeeper. It took extra time and near-total dominance of the ball for the breakthrough to arrive, but when it did, it was enough to end Argentina's hopes of back-to-back triumphs and hand Spain the trophy on home soil in the United States.
A Familiar Story: Spain Press, Argentina Resist
From the outset this had the shape of so many of Spain's games in this tournament: patient, probing possession football against a deep, disciplined Argentina block. The numbers tell their own story — 65% possession, 20 shots to Argentina's 2, and 12 efforts on target against none from the South Americans. Yet for long spells it looked as though Spain would be made to pay for their profligacy, with Argentina's back line, marshalled by the returning Cristian Romero after his introduction, holding firm.
Lisandro Martínez picked up a yellow card in the 41st minute and was withdrawn shortly after, making way for Nicolás Iván González at the interval, an early sign that Argentina's rearguard action was already costing them personnel. Leandro Paredes was booked just after the hour, and by the time Gonzalo Montiel entered the fray in the 58th minute, Lionel Scaloni's side had settled into a shape built entirely around containment rather than creation. For full statistical detail on the contest, the underlying numbers confirm just how one-sided territorial control was, even as the scoreboard stayed blank.
Martínez the Immovable Object
If there was a single reason Spain were made to wait so long for their moment, it was Emiliano Martínez. The Argentina goalkeeper produced a performance for the ages, finishing with a rating of 9.8 across the full 120 minutes and a remarkable 11 saves recorded by his side across the match. Time and again Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal and Pedri probed down the flanks and through the middle, only for Martínez to stand tall. His display kept Argentina in a final they barely threatened to win in open play, and had this been settled on goalkeeping alone, the trophy might have gone the other way.
Spain rang the changes in search of an opening, introducing Mikel Oyarzabal and Fabián Ruiz just after the hour, followed by Alejandro Baena and Daniel Olmo in the 75th minute. Rodri, arguably Spain's most influential figure in midfield, was eventually replaced by Rodrigo Hernández Cascante and Aymeric Laporte deep into normal time as Luis de la Fuente shuffled his pack for extra time.
Extra Time Drama and the Decisive Blow
With normal time goalless, the final rolled into extra time, and it was here that the balance finally tipped. Julián Álvarez was sent on for Argentina in the 102nd minute in a final attempt to add a spark going forward, and Scaloni himself was booked from the touchline in the 104th minute as tensions rose. Four minutes later, Spain found their breakthrough: Ferrán Torres, on from the bench, struck the goal that decided the destination of the trophy. It was a rare moment of end product to reward Spain's overwhelming control, and the goal stood as the difference between two sides who had, for 105 minutes, cancelled each other out through contrasting means — one through possession, the other through resistance.
Argentina were unable to summon a response. Alexis Mac Allister picked up a late booking in the 111th minute as his side pushed forward without reward, but Martínez apart, they simply could not fashion the openings needed to force a reply. There was no late twist, no leveller — only Spain seeing out the closing stages to confirm their status as world champions.
The Bigger Picture
Lionel Messi's tournament, in which he scored eight goals and provided four assists, ends without the ultimate prize, agonisingly close in what may have been his last World Cup dance. For Spain, Mikel Oyarzabal's five goals and a squad brimming with contributors — from Lamine Yamal's guile to Rodri's control in midfield — underline why Argentina found this final such a difficult puzzle to solve. For the full match centre, statistics and reaction, visit the official match report page, and keep across all the latest World Cup news, fixtures and predictions as the tournament concludes.