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Spain Triumphs Over Argentina in 2026 World Cup Final with Ferran Torres’ Extra-Time Winner

In a tense and largely uneventful final, Ferran Torres finally found the breakthrough for Spain in the 106th minute, scoring the decisive goal that secured their second World Cup trophy by defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium.

The match was mostly a defensive slog as Spain suffocated Lionel Messi and his team, limiting their chances. Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez kept the scoreline level with several impressive saves, but after Enzo Fernandez received a red card late in regulation for a reckless challenge, Argentina's resistance waned.

Torres, who had struggled with finishing throughout the tournament and missed two key chances earlier in the game, finally converted a close-range opportunity following a headed assist from Nico Williams, sparking wild celebrations for Spain.

Final Score and Lineups

Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJReferee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)

Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte (Eric Garcia 99'), Marc Cucurella; Rodri (Martin Zubimendi 99'), Fabian Ruiz (Pedri 62'); Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo (Mikel Merino 75'), Alex Baena (Nico Williams 75'); Mikel Oyarzabal (Ferran Torres 62')

Argentina (4-4-2): Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel (Nahuel Molina 58'), Cristian Romero (Facundo Medina 71'), Lisandro Martinez (Nicolas Otamendi 45'), Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul (Giuliano Simeone 71'), Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez (red card 90+3'), Nicolas Gonzalez (Leandro Paredes 46'); Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez (Marcos Senesi 102')

Spain Player Ratings

  • Unai Simon (GK) - 6/10: Reliable but cautious, struggled with long passes early on and was rarely tested until late in extra time.
  • Pedro Porro (RB) - 8/10: Controlled his flank well, strong passing accuracy, and solid defensively against tough opponents.
  • Pau Cubarsi (RCB) - 9/10: Dominated possession and defense, led the team in touches and defensive actions with a composed display.
  • Aymeric Laporte (LCB) - 6/10: Less involved defensively but maintained composure and distribution before being substituted.
  • Marc Cucurella (LB) - 7/10: Provided attacking width early and came close to scoring, faded later as Spain shifted focus.
  • Rodri (CM) - 8/10: Commanding presence in midfield, controlled tempo and won duels, deservedly awarded the Golden Ball.
  • Fabian Ruiz (CM) - 6/10: Solid if unspectacular, kept possession well but did not make decisive impacts.
  • Lamine Yamal (RW) - 7/10: Consistently dangerous, creative with smart touches despite tight marking and limited space.
  • Dani Olmo (AM) - 7/10: Key playmaker early on but gradually lost influence as he dropped deeper.
  • Alex Baena (LW) - 6/10: Struggled for impact on the wing, often helped midfield support but lacked attacking threat.
  • Mikel Oyarzabal (ST) - 5/10: Played more like a midfielder, missed key chances, replaced for more traditional striker role.

Substitutes

  • Pedri (62') - 8/10: Injected energy, created four chances, impressive off the bench.
  • Ferran Torres (62') - 8/10: Redeemed himself with the winning goal after earlier misses.
  • Nico Williams (75') - 7/10: Persistent dribbler, provided assist for the winner.
  • Mikel Merino (75') - 7/10: Helped maintain possession and forward momentum late in the game.
  • Martin Zubimendi (99') - 7/10: Steady in midfield during extra time.
  • Eric Garcia (99') - N/A: Came on late to help secure the defensive line.

Coach: Luis de la Fuente - 9/10

Kept faith in his system from previous matches, implementing a suffocating press and ball control that Argentina could not break down. His patience paid off with a late winning goal.

Argentina Player Ratings

  • Emiliano Martinez (GK) - 9/10: Outstanding with multiple crucial saves, kept Argentina in the match longer than expected.
  • Gonzalo Montiel (RB) - 7/10: Solid defensive effort, made timely tackles but was substituted early due to fatigue.
  • Cristian Romero (CB) - 7/10: Defensive anchor until injury forced him off late in the game.
  • Lisandro Martinez (CB) - 7/10*: Strong early defending but left due to injury before halftime.
  • Nicolas Tagliafico (LB) - 7/10: Physical defender who handled his side well against Spain’s attack.
  • Rodrigo De Paul (RM) - 5/10: Out of position on the wing, limited impact and replaced in the second half.
  • Alexis Mac Allister (CM) - 4/10: Started actively but faded badly, lost possession and influence as the game progressed.
  • Nico Gonzalez (LM) - 5/10: Defensive duties limited offensive output, substituted at halftime.
  • Enzo Fernandez (CM) - 2/10: Struggled to affect the game, received two yellows and was sent off late.
  • Lionel Messi (RF) - 4/10: Rarely found space or influence, touched the ball infrequently and failed to create chances.
  • Julian Alvarez (LF) - 3/10: Invisible for most of the match and substituted late for defensive cover.

Substitutes

  • Nicolas Otamendi (45') - 8/10: Solid replacement for injured Martinez, active in midfield and defense.
  • Leandro Paredes (46') - 7/10: Good on the ball but unable to change momentum; involved in a post-match incident.
  • Nahuel Molina (58') - 6/10: Defended well but overpowered in extra time leading up to the winning goal.
  • Giuliano Simeone (71') - 6/10: Tried to add width and attacking threat but missed a late equalizer chance.
  • Facundo Medina (71') - 7/10: Defensively active, clearing danger in the closing stages.
  • Marcos Senesi (102') - N/A: Came on in extra time during heavy defensive pressure.

Coach: Lionel Scaloni - 7/10

Faced with Spain’s dominating possession, Scaloni opted for a defensive approach that frustrated his team’s usual attacking style. His decision to deploy Rodrigo De Paul wide didn’t work well. Despite limited options, he managed to keep Spain scoreless through regular time but could not prevent the late heartbreak.

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