Spain secured their second World Cup title by defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the MetLife Stadium. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute, breaking the deadlock in a match where Argentina managed only two shots across the entire 120 minutes.
The victory marks Spain's first World Cup triumph since 2010. The match was characterized by Spain's disciplined play, contrasting with several disciplinary issues for Argentina, who had Enzo Fernandez sent off in the 93rd minute and Leandro Paredes dismissed after full-time following a confrontation.
Player Performances
Spain's defense, marshaled by Pau Cubarsi (rated 8/10), was largely untroubled. Cubarsi was noted for his composure and ability to initiate attacks from deep. Rodri (7/10) dictated the midfield early on, though his influence waned later in the match. He was later substituted and went on to win Player of the Tournament. Unai Simon (6/10) made timely interventions but had no saves to make. In attack, Lamine Yamal (7/10) showed flashes of brilliance despite not reaching his peak tournament form. Mikel Oyarzabal (5/10), a star player in the tournament, had a quiet final. The introduction of Nico Williams (9/10) and Ferran Torres (8/10) proved pivotal, with Torres scoring the late winner.
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (8/10) was their standout performer, making 11 saves and keeping his team in contention. However, defensive issues and midfield struggles plagued the squad. Lisandro Martinez (5/10) was forced off injured before halftime. Alexis Mac Allister (4/10) had a poor first half with wayward passes, and Enzo Fernandez (3/10) received a red card for a rash challenge. Lionel Messi (5/10) was largely contained for most of the match, showing dangerous moments only in the final stages.
Managerial Decisions
Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente (8/10) was praised for his late substitutions, which ultimately provided the spark needed for victory, adding this World Cup to his European Championship title. Argentina's manager, Lionel Scaloni (4/10), was criticized for his team's lack of intensity and failure to register a shot on target over 120 minutes, a disappointing defense of their title.