Ferran Torres celebrating his game-winning World Cup final goal for Spain.
Spain Breaks Argentina’s Resistance
Substitute Ferran Torres delivered a 106th-minute strike to secure Spain a 1-0 victory over defending champion Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, July 19.
Opening the second period of extra time, Torres seized a bouncing ball in the penalty box. He drove a left-footed shot under the crossbar, breaking a scoreless deadlock that had defined the grueling match.
Spain dictated the pace throughout regulation. They racked up 15 shots and nine corner kicks, while holding Lionel Messi and Argentina to zero shots and a single corner over the first 90 minutes.
A Red Card and Record-Breaking Goalkeeping
Argentina was forced to play extra time with a man down after Enzo Fernandez received his second yellow card in second-half stoppage time. Fernandez was ejected for a reckless challenge that sent Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air.
Following the ejection, Spanish phenom Lamine Yamal nearly ended the match with a curling 22-yard free kick. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez dove to knock the ball away, registering his 10th save of the afternoon.
Martinez’s relentless performance set a new record for the most saves ever made in a World Cup final, single-handedly pushing the heavily outplayed Argentine squad into extra time.
Unprecedented History for Spain
With this 1-0 victory, Spain made soccer history. They are now the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in both men’s and women’s soccer.
Sunday’s final marked the 104th and concluding match of the largest World Cup tournament to date. The expanded 48-team event, hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, produced a record-shattering 308 total goals.
A Star-Studded Mega-Event
The closing ceremony kicked off 90 minutes before the match, headlined by Post Malone. FIFA also introduced a 27-minute halftime show featuring Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Burna Boy, alongside the PS 22 Chorus, Coldplay, and characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.
The stadium was packed with A-list actors, including Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Cillian Murphy, and Daniel Craig. Professional athletes crossed sporting boundaries to attend, with NBA stars Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama joining NFL standouts Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley.
President Donald Trump was also in attendance, scheduled to participate in the post-match trophy presentation.
“I won’t pick sides,” Trump told Fox Sports prior to kickoff. “I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi. He’s great.”
