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⚽ Spain are world champions again. Hours ago, La Roja claimed their second World Cup title, beating defending champions Argentina 1-0 through a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute — moments after the match turned decisively Spain’s way when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card in extra time, leaving Argentina to play out the remainder with 10 men. Spain were dominant throughout; Argentina collected five bookings and a red card.
Total control: Argentina had scraped their way to extra time largely through the heroics of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who kept the scores level with a string of saves before Torres beat him. The defending champions — chasing back-to-back titles — offered almost nothing going forward, becoming the first team in World Cup history to reach a final without registering a single shot on target across 90 minutes.
A game for the history books: Spain registered 20 shots to Argentina’s two, and 12 on target to Argentina’s zero — across 120 minutes. The victory caps an exceptional defensive tournament for Spain, who conceded just one goal throughout, claiming their second title since 2010 and extending an unbeaten run to 38 matches. La Roja are expected to collect prize money of USD 50 mn.
Last dance: For Argentina, this was almost certainly Messi’s final World Cup — he will be 43 by the time the 2030 edition arrives. In a poignant footnote, the New York New Jersey Stadium is the same ground where he announced his international retirement in 2016 before reversing the decision.
🏅The honors
Rodri Hernandez took the Golden Ball as player of the tournament — the 2024 Ballon d'Or victory anchored Spain’s formidable midfield defense throughout. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot as top scorer for the second consecutive tournament, finishing with 10 goals.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon took the Golden Glove, setting a tournament record of seven clean sheets while conceding just once across eight matches. Center-back Pau Cubarsi claimed the best young player award after a composed defensive tournament, becoming only the second teenager to secure the prize after Mbappé in 2018. The FIFA Fair Play Award went to the Netherlands.
