Spain’s Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal of the match during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final at New York-New Jersey Stadium. Photo date: Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Nick Potts | Pa Images | Getty Images
Ferran Torres’ first goal at this year’s World Cup was his lifelong goal, returning Spain to the top of the football world.
Torres came off the bench to score in the 106th minute, denying Lionel Messi a second consecutive World Cup title in what he suggested would be his last World Cup match, ending Argentina’s reign with a 1-0 win on Sunday in a game in which Spain simply had the upper hand.
Torres pounced on the ball as it bounced into the box and fired with his left foot, under the crossbar and into the back of the goal.
“This was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population.
Perhaps not by them, but certainly because of them.
This was Spain’s second title, in addition to the one won in 2010. And there is no question that they are the center of the soccer world now, not after this victory.
Spain conceded just one goal in eight games in the tournament, setting a record for the fewest goals conceded in a World Cup by a champion. And when this title is combined with the World Cup won by Spain Women in 2023, the European nation becomes the first to hold both the men’s and women’s titles at the same time.
After receiving his runner-up medal and looking at the Argentine supporters in the crowd, Messi burst into tears, saying, “I feel sad.” “To be honest, they were better.”
The scores showed that the game was close, but only one team was in command.
Spain had the first 20 shots on goal of the match, but Argentina, desperate for an equalizer, got their first shot in the second half of extra time. Spain converted nine of the game’s first 10 corner kicks, and only Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s 12 saves, a World Cup final record, gave the 2022 champions a chance to repeat the title.
Spain are currently unbeaten in their last 38 games (29 wins, 9 draws), the longest streak ever by a European team. Italy played 37 matches (28 wins, 9 draws) from October 2018 to September 2021, and Spain ended their winning streak.
Spain national team forward number 19 Lamine Yamal celebrates with his teammates after winning the 2026 Soccer World Cup soccer tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026.
Frank Fife | AFP | Getty Images
And over the past two years, no one has been able to beat Spain. Not even Messi. The Argentine team, who were the champions of the rallies in the final stages of this tournament, had no answer this time.
With about four minutes left before the final whistle, Messi took a corner kick and the ball luckily went to substitute Giuliano Simeone. Simeone lifted the ball high and over the crossbar, then held his head in disbelief.
“It’s nerve-wracking when you have Messi on the other side,” Torres said. “After all, we always counted on us. We always came up with our own football and showed it again.”
With this victory, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente became 65 years old, making him the oldest coach to lead his team to a World Cup victory.
“We are world champions,” de la Fuente said. “We reached this stage together.”
There was some jostling after the final whistle, but it quickly subsided and Spain began celebrating while most of the Argentine players sat on the grass in disbelief. Calm heads prevailed, and Spain’s players lined up minutes later to form a kind of honor guard for the Argentine team heading to the stage where they would receive their runner-up medals.
In stoppage time of the second half, Enzo Fernandes received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Argentina with 10 men. Fernandes was immediately carded for a reckless play that cartwheeled Spain defender Pau Kvarsi into the air.
It was the 104th and final match of the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams against the United States, Canada and Mexico. With more matches played than any previous World Cup, it’s no surprise that there were more goals scored than in all other competitions. He scored over 300 goals, or almost 3 goals per game.
Unless, of course, Spain was involved. Spain’s plan was simple and perfect. Hold the ball as long as possible and don’t give your opponent any chance.
It went well until the end.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni said, “I’m sad, but I also feel that we gave our all.” “I could go on and on about how we got here, but it’s just not worth it. I’m forever grateful to these guys. They competed until the end. Other teams were better.”
Spain entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win the tournament, confident that they could end Argentina’s reign.
In order to fulfill that promise, it had to go through perhaps the greatest player in the game of all time.
Messi is 39 years old and the mathematics certainly suggest that the Inter Miami star is nearing the end of his international career. There were hints, such as Messi himself declaring that last year’s home World Cup qualifier against Venezuela would be his last match for Argentina on home soil.
“I experienced a lot on this pitch, both good and not so good,” Messi said that night. “I’ll take the good ones with me.”
A lot of good things happened during Messi’s era. In fact, there are many great things.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, number 10, and Spain’s Lamine Yamal, number 19, interact during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
Hannah Peters – FIFA | FIFA | Getty Images
There was a World Cup title in 2022, which was clearly at the top of the list. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. There will be two Copa America titles, the first in 2021 and the second in 2024. He has won Argentina’s Player of the Year award 16 times in 19 years, first winning it as a teenager and continuing to do so well into his late 30s.
He is a legend not only in the game but around the world. But on Sunday, Spain was better.
“I talked to the players and they said, ‘Look, we won everything, coach. We won everything,'” de la Fuente said. “And it’s beautiful.”
The sight wasn’t just limited to soccer. FIFA’s first halftime show was also held. Celebrities from stage, film and sports were there: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembaneyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and dozens more.
They came to see the show. Not to mention the probably 2 billion people watching around the world, as well as 80,000 others.
Spain did not disappoint. No team has won back-to-back Men’s World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, and Spain stopped Argentina from winning back-to-back titles.
“We are tolerant of victories, but we must also be tolerant of defeats,” Scaloni said.
