EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Shadows had crept throughout MetLife Stadium as a tedious closing dominated by at an absurd clip lurched into further time with out a breakthrough Sunday.
and had no enterprise clinging to hope of a second consecutive championship after failing to create a shot and and even hyperlink just a few passes.
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Spain’s reign hadn’t translated right into a aim, nonetheless, and with every of , the cruelty of a shootout lurked on the horizon.
Then got here the second Spain had waited for all afternoon — and, frankly, for 16 years since its final world title. Thirty-nine seconds into the second half of additional time, thumped in an 8-yard shot and La Roja lastly shattered 10-man Argentina’s spirit to assert a 1-0 victory.
The result soured the ostensible finish of Messi’s World Cup profession. Together with his workforce chasing Spaniards all day, Messi hardly ever touched the ball and did not have a lot affect on the finish of a match through which the 39-year-old ahead was higher than ever.
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A wildly entertaining match that had riveted North America over 5 weeks was diminished to a grueling check of endurance and wills.
However within the 106th minute, lifted the ball to the again put up. beat to the header. Martínez had dedicated to the ball as effectively, so when Williams headed the ball again, the goalkeeper was out of place for Torres’ rasping one-timer.
“I simply noticed the ball coming to me and I simply shot with the ability of all of the Spanish folks,” Torres stated postgame.
The reigning European champions stretched their unbeaten run to 38 matches over greater than two years and captured their first World Cup since ‘s extra-time winner in opposition to the delivered Spain’s maiden title in 2010.
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In its seventh closing, Argentina misplaced for the fourth time. It was making an attempt to grow to be the primary repeat winner since in 1962.
After scoring 19 targets in seven matches, La Albiceleste managed simply two pictures, neither of which was on course, and touched the ball simply eight instances within the penalty space. Spain had 20 pictures, 12 on course and 31 touches within the field.
Lionel Messi sits on the pitch after Argentina’s World Cup closing defeat to Spain, taking in what might be the ultimate World Cup match of his storied profession.
(Hector Vivas – FIFA by way of Getty Photographs)
The backdrop was hardly spectacular: a soulless, suburban NFL stadium with none distinctive traits and nothing however grey seats. However the colours and sounds of soccer — and of a World Cup — introduced the tasteless beast to life: Spain’s reds and yellows, Argentina’s sky blues and whites, and a tapestry of hues representing many nations that fell quick: Colombian, Brazilian, Mexican, U.S. and French, amongst others.
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The Argentines serenaded their heroes, a refrain of 1000’s that has adopted La Albiceleste all through the match; Sunday was no completely different. Simply as they had been omnipresent in each different metropolis Argentina visited, they descended on — and commandeered — Instances Sq. on Saturday.
Spain entered as a slight favourite, however with eight starters from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentina arrived stuffed with consolation and confidence.
Spain’s stress pressured the problem within the opening stage. Teenage sensation had the ball in harmful positions however did not check Martínez. Laborious tackles set a tough tone and saved referee Slavko Vinčić on his toes.
The hydration break, for each the gamers and the dry pitch below an unobstructed solar, introduced alternative for the coaches to rethink issues.
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; the ultimate was for deep thinkers. Spain strangled Argentina’s promise and, via motion and interplay, started sporting down the opponent. Nonetheless, clear scoring probabilities had been scarce.
Simply earlier than the half, Argentina misplaced middle again to harm and turned to veteran Nicolas Otamendi. The half ended with a whimper.
After 19 targets in seven matches, Argentina huffed into the locker room with no pictures, no nook kicks, no touches within the penalty space and 35 p.c of possession.
After , Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni turned again to his bench, changing midfielder Nico González with , whose first contact was a turnover.
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Scaloni’s endurance ran skinny. His third substitution was a change at proper again, Nahuel Molina for , the shootout hero of the 2022 World Cup closing.
Now it was Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s flip with two modifications within the 62nd minute, together with the elimination of high scorer .
To ‘s delight, the match turned more and more deliberate and ornery. Spain’s nook kick complete swelled.
Yamal beat two defenders and saved the ball from crossing the tip line earlier than crossing to sub Ferran Torres for a close-range header immediately at Martínez.
Spain’s Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring the extra-time aim that lifted Spain previous Argentina and to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title.
(Tullio Puglia – FIFA by way of Getty Photographs)
Substitutions continued by each coaches, who sought options to a match that refused to budge.
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The deeper the sport went with out a aim, the higher the Argentines felt about their probabilities. That they had proved themselves many times within the late phases of tight matches.
Whereas Spain’s stress didn’t recede, makes an attempt on aim lacked energy and creativeness and Martínez’s diploma of problem was low. By stoppage time, he had damaged the championship-game file of eight saves. (He completed with 11.)
The match took a flip in stoppage time when Enzo Martínez’s late problem despatched Spain’s Pau Cubarsí twisting and flying into the air earlier than crashing to the turf, leading to his second yellow card and a red-card ejection.
Moments later, Yamal was within the highlight, standing over a free kick some 25 yards from glory. {The teenager} lifted the ball over the wall with a swerve, however Martínez learn all of it the best way and pushed it apart with two fingers.
Further time beckoned.
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By some means, Argentina was nonetheless alive, regardless of no pictures and one nook kick via 90 minutes.
Already below duress, Argentina needed to survive one other half-hour with 10 males. Its probabilities hung by a thread.
Within the 93rd minute, Martínez made one other save, flashing to his proper in spectacular vogue to tip Williams’ glancing header from shut vary.
Moments later, Williams took benefit of a scramble to beat Martínez to the ball and put it into the web, however ‘s foul nullified the obvious aim.
This entire time, Messi was a ghost. No Argentine possession meant no alternatives for the celebrity to work his magic.
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Merino might have damaged the tie, however his close-ranger glancing header sailed large. Then got here the breakthrough.
Within the dying moments, Argentina had a number of probabilities to attract even however shot off-target.
The ultimate whistle introduced Spanish elation, Argentine dejection and, becoming for the day, a few scuffles.
It was removed from a murals, however the World Cup had a worthy champion.
Dwell protection is over126 updates
Solar, July 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM PDT
Nick Bromberg
Nick Bromberg
The 39-year-old had an unbelievable World Cup, however Argentina is now 1-2 in World Cup finals throughout his time with the workforce.
Nick Bromberg
Spain is the primary nation to concurrently be capable to say it’s the World Cup champions in each males’s and ladies’s soccer.
Nick Bromberg
Nick Bromberg
Nick Bromberg
Messi had been principally stoic because the recreation was over, however he was overcome through the medal ceremony.
Nick Bromberg
Nick Bromberg
The defensive midfielder was the power that drove Spain’s group and possession. He’s come again from a major knee harm to be simply pretty much as good as he was earlier than.
Nick Bromberg
Spain allowed only one aim all match. Simon’s win is extremely apparent, despite the fact that Emi Martinez saved 11 pictures on Sunday.
Nick Bromberg
Lamine Yamal was the heavy favourite to win the award earlier than the match, however Cubarsi was glorious as an anchor of Spain’s again line and began each recreation of the World Cup.
Nick Bromberg
Right here’s a slow-motion replay of what occurred on the finish of the sport.
Nick Bromberg
Spain merely doesn’t lose aggressive matches below de la Fuente. He’s 14-0-1 because the workforce’s supervisor along with being the oldest supervisor to win the World Cup.
Nick Bromberg
Nick Bromberg
Argentina entered the 2026 World Cup attempting to be the primary workforce to win 4 straight main tournaments. Argentina received Copa América in 2021 and 2024 sandwiched across the 2022 World Cup.
As a substitute, Lionel Messi’s potential closing main match look in an Argentina shirt resulted in disappointment.
Nick Bromberg
Superior stats are additionally extremely harsh on Argentina’s assault.
It had simply 0.20 anticipated targets from the minimal probabilities created. Spain, in the meantime, had 1.94 targets.
It was a totally decisive victory for Spain, even when it took further time for it to occur.
Nick Bromberg
It took till the second half of additional time for Argentina to register its first shot.
Spain, in the meantime, had 20 pictures and compelled Argentina keeper Emi Martinez right into a World Cup closing file 11 saves.
Nick Bromberg
Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni broke up some shoving after Spain formally received.
Nick Bromberg
Lionel Messi is stoic as he watches Spain rejoice. There will probably be no back-to-back World Cup winner once more. Brazil’s run in 1958 and 1962 nonetheless stands as the newest.
Nick Bromberg
Spain has received the World Cup for the second time! It’s Ferran Torres’ aim within the 106th minute to provide La Roja a second star on the jersey.
Nick Bromberg
Unai Simon catches an extended go and that may virtually do it. Argentina has roughly a minute left.
