Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match, giving Spain their second World Cup victory.
Published July 19, 2026
In the final, Ferran Torres scored a goal in the 106th minute, winning 1-0 in extra time against Argentina in a 10-a-side game, giving Spain their second World Cup victory.
Torres’ well-deserved victory on Sunday came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time for a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands and propelled the Spaniards to their first world championship.
This was La Roja’s 20th shot against defending champions Argentina, who had been unable to control many of their previous shots and struggled to take the ball away from their superior Iberian opponents.
That was the case at even strength, made even more difficult when La Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced as Enzo Fernandes’ late challenge on Pau Kvarsi left referee Slavko Vincic with no choice but to issue a second warning just before the end of regular time.
Spain is the only country to have won the European Championship and the World Cup consecutively, and this is their second victory. They are also the first World Cup champions to concede just once in the entire tournament.
In addition to winning the 2022 World Cup, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, but failed to win the title for the first time in three major tournaments.
The 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, but had little time with the ball in the final, which ultimately gave Spain the lead. And, as he has many times over the past two World Cup cycles, he never intended to lift his team to another great moment.
Emi Martinez made 11 saves for La Albiceleste, but they fell short of Brazil’s goal of winning back-to-back World Cups for the first time since they won in 1958 and 1962.
What seemed so difficult for the first 105 minutes suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second overtime period.
Pedro Polo curled an outswinging cross from the left and hit the back post, Nico Williams headed it back into space and Torres ended up firing a half-volley past a fluttering Martinez.
It was his only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score in a tournament in which his team never trailed.
Asked about the goal after the game, Torres said: “Honestly, I didn’t think much about it. I just saw the ball coming to me and with the help of all the Spaniards, I took the shot.”
With this victory, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente became 65 years old, making him the oldest coach to lead his team to a World Cup victory.
“We are world champions,” de la Fuente said. “We reached this stage together.”
There was some jostling after the final whistle, but it quickly subsided and Spain began celebrating while most of Argentina’s players sat on the grass in disbelief.
Cool heads prevailed, and Spain’s players lined up minutes later, forming a kind of honor guard for Argentina to pass through on their way to the stage where they would collect their runner-up medals.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that Spain was the better team.
“They were better, that’s the truth, but I want to cherish the memory of them (his team), what they accomplished and the value of getting this far,” Scaloni said.
“We have to put a lot of value on this because it takes a lot of effort.”
