Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike hands Spain a second World Cup title, 16 years after Andrés Iniesta’s iconic 2010 winner.
Spain edged Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final to claim their second world title, with substitute Ferran Torres netting the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
The winning move began with a cross from Pedro Porro on the left, which Nico Williams headed back into the box for Torres to smash a first-time volley past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
It was Torres’ only goal of the tournament, but it was enough to settle a final that Spain dominated from start to finish. The hosts controlled 65 percent of possession, fired 20 shots — 11 on target — and strung together 852 passes against Argentina’s 464.
Speaking after the match, Torres said he had reacted instinctively when the ball fell to him, describing the strike as carrying the weight of the entire nation behind it.
Spain’s control was reflected in the numbers: Rodri completed 101 passes and Pau Cubarsí 121, making them only the second and third players in World Cup final history to reach a century of completed passes in a single final. Cubarsí, 19, was later named the tournament’s Best Young Player.
His Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, also 19, became the third-youngest player to feature in a World Cup final — behind only Pelé and Giuseppe Bergomi — and the third-youngest World Cup winner ever.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón kept his seventh clean sheet in eight matches to win the tournament’s Golden Glove award, as Spain conceded just a single goal across the entire World Cup, matching the record for fewest goals conceded by a champion side.
The win completes a remarkable sweep for Spanish football: the men’s team now hold the World Cup, European Championship and Olympic titles simultaneously, while the women’s national team are also reigning world champions. Spain have gone unbeaten in 38 straight matches across all competitions, the longest such run by any European nation.
Notably, Spain did not win their opening match in either of their World Cup-winning campaigns — they were held 0-0 by Cape Verde this time, just as they lost their 2010 opener to Switzerland.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente, 65, became the oldest coach to win a World Cup. He said the team had reached the moment together as world champions.
Argentina Denied Historic Three-Peat
For Argentina, the defeat ends hopes of a third consecutive major title after winning the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 and the World Cup in 2022.
Lionel Messi, 39, finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists but was kept largely quiet by Spain’s defense in the final. Argentina, unable to match Spain’s rhythm, leaned on a disruptive approach led by Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernández, with four Argentine players booked.
Argentina’s task grew harder when Fernández was shown a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Cubarsí, reducing his side to ten men. Despite the setback, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced 11 saves, the most by any goalkeeper in a World Cup final, keeping Argentina in the contest until extra time.
Argentina became the first team in World Cup history to fail to register a single shot in the regulation 90 minutes of a final, with their first attempt — through Messi — not arriving until the 117th minute.
A brief confrontation between players broke out at the final whistle before order was restored. Spain’s squad celebrated on the pitch while several Argentine players remained seated in disappointment. Spain’s players later formed a guard of honour as Argentina collected their runners-up medals.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged Spain’s superiority after the match, saying they had been the better team on the day, while praising his own squad’s effort and the difficulty of reaching a World Cup final.