Spain vs Argentina

The final followed a pattern established across the entire tournament: Spain controlled possession and territory while Argentina sat deep and looked to counter. The defending champions failed to register a single shot on goal in 90 minutes, with Spain monopolising the ball and creating chance after chance.

Emiliano Martinez single-handedly kept Argentina level. The Aston Villa goalkeeper made a World Cup final-record 12 saves, denying Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo among others. Spain took the game's first 20 shots on goal before Argentina managed a single attempt.

Spain thought they had broken the deadlock in the first half of extra time when Nico Williams turned the ball in, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolas Otamendi in the build-up.

The game's decisive moment came before extra time even began. In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsi, leaving Argentina to face the additional 30 minutes with 10 men.

Just 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, Spain made the numerical advantage count. Pedro Porro sent a deep cross into the box, Nico Williams headed it back across goal, and substitute Ferran Torres arrived to smash a left-footed volley under the crossbar.

"It was a goal scored by 47 million people," Torres said after the match, referring to Spain's population.

Argentina's first — and only — shot on target came in the 117th minute, when a Messi corner kick found Giuliano Simeone, who headed over the bar when well placed. Spain closed out the final minutes with minimal fuss.

Enzo Fernandez's 90th+3-minute red card. Until that moment, Argentina had a route to penalties — and Martinez's shootout heroics — as a path to retaining the title. Once reduced to 10, Scaloni sacrificed Julian Alvarez for defender Marcos Senesi, and the last vestige of attacking threat vanished. Spain scored within seven minutes of the extra-time restart.

Ferran Torres (Spain) — 9/10 — Introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute, the Barcelona forward had been quiet until his moment arrived. The finish was emphatic, a one-touch volley that left Martinez no chance. Only his second touch of the extra-time period.

Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) — 9/10 — A World Cup final-record 12 saves kept Argentina in a game they had no right to be in. Denied Yamal from a free kick, smothered multiple close-range efforts, and was beaten only by a finish that few goalkeepers would have reached.

Lamine Yamal (Spain) — 8/10 — At 19 years and six days, the third-youngest player to feature in a World Cup final (after Pele in 1958 and Bergomi in 1982). His dribbling and movement caused constant problems, though he was denied by Martinez on several occasions.

Nico Williams (Spain) — 8/10 — Provided the assist for the winner with a clever header back across goal and had a goal ruled out in extra time. His direct running stretched Argentina's defence throughout.

Spain's 20-0 shot count before Argentina's first attempt tells the real story, not the 1-0 scoreline. Martinez's 12 saves — a World Cup final record — explain why the game reached extra time at all. Spain's tournament defensive record — one goal conceded in eight matches — is the fewest ever by a World Cup champion. The 38-match unbeaten run (29 wins, nine draws, dating back to March 2023) is the longest by any European side in history, surpassing Italy's 37-match run between 2018 and 2021.

Spain become world champions for the second time, 16 years after their 2010 triumph in South Africa. They are the first nation to hold both the men's and women's World Cup simultaneously, having won the 2023 women's title. They also remain European champions after winning Euro 2024.

For Argentina, the dream of becoming the first team since Brazil (1958-62) to retain the World Cup is over. Lionel Messi, at 39, played what is expected to be his final World Cup match and was unable to influence the game. Lionel Scaloni broke down in tears during his post-match press conference.

"It is very painful, I am very sorry," Scaloni told reporters before leaving the room.

Spain's next major test will be the 2028 European Championship, co-hosted by the UK and Ireland. Argentina will begin a new cycle, likely without Messi and several of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup.

A final that was close on the scoreboard but lopsided in every other metric. Spain were tactically superior, physically dominant and defensively impenetrable. Argentina's resistance was heroic but ultimately unsustainable. The best team won — and by a wider margin than 1-0 suggests.