Spain needs extra time to capture World Cup title
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- This is how good Spain was at the World Cup: Not even Lionel Messi had any answers.
And when it was over, Spain walked off with the trophy. Messi simply walked off in tears.
Spain is back atop the soccer world for a second time, after Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup -- unquestionably the goal of his life -- gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champion Argentina in the final on Sunday.
“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population.
Maybe not by them -- but certainly for them.
The goal came with Argentina down to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late in regulation following a reckless tackle. Tempers flared then, and flared again after the final whistle with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and players from both sides engaging in what appeared to be some pushing and shoving.
In the end, Spain denied Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated was his final World Cup match. Torres, a second-half substitute, pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar in the 106th minute.
From there, the airtight defense that dominated opponents throughout the tournament came through one final time. Spain -- which also won the title in 2010 -- allowed only one goal in eight matches in this World Cup run, setting a record for fewest goals allowed by a champion.
“I feel pride, to be honest,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who at 65 is now the oldest man to lead a team to a World Cup title. “Accompanying them on this journey is an honor.”
World Cup first
This title, combined with the Women’s World Cup won by Spain in 2023, makes the European nation the first to hold both the men’s and women’s titles simultaneously. And in the streets of Madrid -- probably many other places in Spain as well -- countless people spilled into the streets, celebrating Sunday’s victory long into the wee hours of Monday morning.
The score indicates this match was close, but only one team was in command.
Spain took the game’s first 20 shots on goal before Argentina -- desperate for an equalizer -- got its first attempt off in the second half of extra time. Spain took nine of the game’s first 10 corner kicks, and only a World Cup final-record 12 saves by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez gave the 2022 champions a shot at going back-to-back.
“Dibu was nothing short of exceptional,” de la Fuente said, referring to Argentina’s keeper by his nickname.
Spain is now unbeaten in its last 38 matches -- 29 wins, nine draws -- and is the outright holder of the longest such streak by any European men’s team ever. Italy went 37 matches (28 wins, nine draws) from October 2018 through September 2021, before Spain ended that streak.
Survive
Spain’s Alex Baena, right, fouls Argentina’s Lionel Messi during the World Cup final in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday. (AP photo)
Messi took a corner kick with about four minutes left before the final whistle and the ball took a fortunate skip toward substitute Giuliano Simeone -- who sent it high and over the crossbar, holding his head in disbelief afterward.
“When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous,” Torres said. “At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again.”
After the post-match scuffles, they also paid tribute to the former champions. Spain’s players lined up to form an honor guard of sorts for Argentina’s squad to walk through on its way to the stage for the runner-up medals from President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
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This story was updated to remove quotes mistakenly attributed to Lionel Messi that were actually Lionel Scaloni.