Spain clinched their second World Cup title after a thrilling 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final, thanks to Ferran Torres' decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time. This triumph follows Spain's success at Euro 2024, marking a significant achievement for the national team.

Match Overview

In a match dominated by Spain, Torres found the net with Spain's 20th attempt, while Argentina failed to register a single shot on target throughout the game. The match was notable for its lengthy duration, taking three hours to complete, which included a 27-minute half-time break. Lionel Messi, in what is anticipated to be his final World Cup appearance, had a quiet game, touching the ball only 54 times.

Key Moments

The winning goal came after a setup from fellow substitute Nico Williams, who assisted Torres as he struck the ball past Aston Villa's goalkeeper, Emi Martinez. This moment echoed Spain's first World Cup victory in 2010 when Andres Iniesta scored in the second period of extra time against the Netherlands. Earlier in the match, Williams had a goal disallowed for a foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolas Otamendi.

Despite Argentina's efforts to maintain their defensive structure, they faced challenges after Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card late in normal time, leaving them with ten players. Their only real opportunity to equalize came in added time during extra time, but Giuliano Simeone's shot went over the bar, sealing Argentina's fate.

Ultimately, Messi's hopes for a fairytale ending were dashed, as he was outperformed in the Golden Boot race by France's Kylian Mbappe, who finished with two more goals. The match concluded with a tearful Messi reflecting on Argentina's defeat, while Spain celebrated their hard-fought victory.