Torres lifts Spain past Argentina for World Cup

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Ferran Torres waited for his opportunity, then delivered the goal that returned Spain to the summit of world football.

Torres scored in the 106th minute as Spain defeated defending champion Argentina, 1-0, after extra time Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium to capture its second FIFA World Cup title.

Substitute Nico Williams redirected the ball into Torres’ path inside the penalty area, where the Barcelona forward surged forward and fired a left-footed shot past Emiliano Martínez.

The strike was Torres’ first goal of the tournament and Spain’s 20th attempt of a final it controlled almost from start to finish.

“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population.

Torres’ winner ended Argentina’s four-year reign and denied Lionel Messi a second consecutive championship in what was widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance.

Spain’s triumph also completed its rise from UEFA European champion in 2024 to world champion two years later.

The match developed into a tactical battle as Spain dominated possession and territory while Argentina defended deep and attempted to create openings through Messi on the counterattack.

Spain produced the first 20 attempts of the match and earned nine of the first 10 corner kicks before Argentina finally recorded an attempt during the second half of extra time.

Argentina failed to place a shot on target throughout the final, while Martínez made a World Cup final-record 12 saves to keep the defending champion within striking distance.

Spain’s pressure was especially pronounced before halftime, when Argentina failed to register an attempt as the Spanish midfield cut off passing lanes toward Messi and the Argentine forwards.

Argentina survived regulation without conceding but entered extra time with 10 players after Enzo Fernández received his second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí during second-half stoppage time.

Spain finally broke through when Williams nodded the ball toward Torres, who drove his shot beyond Martínez and under the crossbar.

The finish echoed Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner against the Netherlands in 2010, which delivered Spain’s first World Cup championship.

Torres’ movement had stretched Argentina’s back line after his introduction, and his lone opening transformed Spain’s territorial dominance into another historic title.

Argentina’s best chance to force a penalty shootout came late in extra time, but substitute Giuliano Simeone sent his attempt over the crossbar.

Messi was largely isolated as Spain crowded the central spaces and denied Argentina the possession needed to build sustained attacks.

The 39-year-old captain finished without a goal or assist after entering the final with eight goals, two behind Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé.

Messi had still produced an influential tournament, including assists on both goals in Argentina’s 2-1 semifinal victory over England.

His campaign ended with eight goals, a place in the final and another deep World Cup run after leading Argentina to the championship in 2022.

Spain, meanwhile, completed an unbeaten tournament after topping Group H with seven points and winning all five of its knockout matches.

La Roja defeated Austria, 3-0, in the round of 32; Portugal, 1-0, in the round of 16; Belgium, 2-1, in the quarterfinals; France, 2-0, in the semifinals; and Argentina, 1-0, in the final.

Spain conceded only once across the five elimination matches and allowed just one goal in eight tournament games, setting a record for the fewest goals conceded by a World Cup champion.

Captain Rodri controlled the midfield, Lamine Yamal repeatedly challenged defenders from the wing, Unai Simón anchored the defense and Williams provided the decisive creativity in extra time.

Rodri was later awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

The victory extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 38 matches, surpassing Italy’s previous European men’s record of 37 games without defeat.

Spain also became the first nation to simultaneously hold the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup championships after its women’s team won the 2023 tournament.

For Argentina, the defeat ended its bid to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the men’s World Cup title.

For Spain, Torres supplied the finishing touch that turned a commanding tournament run into the country’s second golden chapter.

Sixteen years after Iniesta delivered Spain’s first star, Torres secured the second.