Spain Beats Argentina 1-0 in Extra Time to Win Its Second World Cup as Ferran Torres Sinks Messi's Last Dance

Spain is a world champion again. La Roja outlasted Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, capturing its second World Cup title and denying Lionel Messi a storybook farewell in what is expected to be his final tournament.

The lone goal came 39 seconds into the second period of extra time, when Ferran Torres thumped an eight-yard shot past the Argentine goalkeeper to break a grinding stalemate. For most of the night Spain had dominated possession and territory without reward, outshooting Argentina 20-3 across regulation but failing to solve a stubborn defense until the game's dying stretch.

The decisive swing had come minutes earlier. Deep in stoppage time at the end of the second half, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez collected a second yellow card and was sent off, forcing his team to play the entirety of extra time a man down. The numerical edge finally told, and Torres pounced to settle a final that had threatened to drift toward penalties.

The victory sealed a historic tournament for Spain, which finished undefeated and conceded just a single goal across the entire competition, one of the stingiest defensive runs the World Cup has ever seen. It was the country's first title since 2010 and cemented a golden generation led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and veteran forward Mikel Oyarzabal. Manager Luis de la Fuente, at 64, became the oldest coach ever to win the World Cup.

For Argentina and Messi, the defeat was a bitter coda. The 39-year-old captain, chasing a second World Cup crown to bookend the one he lifted in 2022, was largely smothered by Spain's midfield and left the field in tears as Spain's players began their celebrations. Argentina's bid to defend its title ended one match short.

The match closed out the first World Cup staged under FIFA's expanded 48-team format, a sprawling 104-game tournament co-hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico that drew record crowds throughout the summer. For all its novelty, the competition ended with a familiar sight: a European power hoisting the trophy on North American soil.

The final also capped a made-for-America spectacle. A halftime show curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin featured Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Burna Boy, Justin Bieber and the Muppets, while President Donald Trump's attendance snarled security and logistics around the stadium for hours before kickoff. When the whistle finally blew, though, the story belonged to Spain, its relentless passing game and a defense that simply would not break.