Spain wins the World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 on Ferran Torres’ goal in extra time
Torres, who did not allow Lionel Messi to win his second consecutive title in the last World Cup match, came off the bench and scored in the 106th minute, and Spain won the reign of Argentina 1-0 on Sunday in a match they dominated.
Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the penalty area and used his left foot to send a shot into the back of the net, just under the crossbar.
This was Spain’s second title, adding to the trophy won in 2010. And after this display there is no longer any doubt about the center of the football universe.
Spain allowed just one goal in eight matches in the tournament, breaking the World Cup record for fewest goals allowed by a champion. And this title, combined with the World Cup won by the Spanish women in 2023, makes the European country the first to win both the men’s and women’s titles simultaneously.
The score shows that the match is close but only one team is in control.
While Spain shot the first 20 shots of the match on goal, Argentina, looking for an equalizer, made its first attack attempt in the second half of extra time. Spain took nine of the game’s first 10 corner kicks and only Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s World Cup final record 12 saves gave the 2022 champions the chance of a back-to-back. Spain are now unbeaten in their last 38 matches – 29 wins, nine draws – and are now by far the longest such winning streak of any European team. From October 2018 to September 2021, Italy won 37 matches (28 wins, 9 draws) before ending Spain’s winning streak.
And for the last more than two years, no one has been able to beat Spain. Not even Messi. The Argentinian team, the king of the post-game rally in this tournament, had no answer this time.
Messi took the corner kick about four minutes before the final whistle and the ball took a lucky leap towards substitute Giuliano Simeone – who sent the ball high over the crossbar and then held his head in disbelief.
This win made Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, 65, the oldest coach to lead a team to the World Cup title. There was some scuffling and shoving after the final whistle, which was quickly cleared up and Spain began celebrating as most Argentine players sat on the grass in disbelief.
Enzo Fernandez received his second yellow card before being shown a red card in second-half stoppage time, meaning Argentina had to finish the match with just 10 players. Fernandez was booked for reckless play, which resulted in a somersault by Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi, and the card was issued immediately.
This was the 104th and final match of the largest ever World Cup, featuring 48 teams played in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Since there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than any other World Cup.
The show wasn’t just limited to football.
Celebrities from all walks of life were there. The actors of the game included Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker.
There was enough talent in the NBA for a full All-Star Game; Players in attendance included Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny James, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were among those watching the tennis royals; Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. in the NFL. and there were names like Saquon Barkley; The match featured two of the best US skiers ever, Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn – and, of course, football royalty like Kaka, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane.
They came to watch a show. 80,000 more did the same; not to mention the 2 billion or so people watching worldwide.
Spain did not disappoint.
