Torres fires Spain past Argentina in extra time to win World Cup, denying Messi a second title
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Ferran Torres' first goal at this year's World Cup was the goal of his life, and put Spain back on top of world football.
Denying Lionel Messi a second straight title in what he predicted would be his last World Cup match, Torres came off the bench to score in the 106th minute as Spain – fresh from victory – ended Argentina's reign 1-0 on Sunday.
Torres pounced on the ball in the box and used his left foot to block the shot just under the post and back into the net.
It was the second title in Spain, this trophy was added to the one won in 2010. And there is no question about the center of football now, not after this demonstration.
Spain have conceded just one goal in eight games in the tournament, setting a record for the fewest goals conceded by a champion. And this title, combined with the World Cup won by Spain's women in 2023, makes the European nation the first to hold the men's and women's titles at the same time.
The result shows that the game was close, but only one team was in the lead.
Spain had the first 20 shots on target before Argentina – desperate for an equalizer – got their first effort in the second half of extra time. Spain won nine of the game's first 10 corners, and only Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's World Cup-record 12 saves gave the 2022 champions a shot at a comeback.
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Spain are now unbeaten in their last 38 games – 29 wins, nine draws – and are now involved in the longest run of any team in Europe. Italy played 37 games (28 wins, nine draws) from October 2018 to September 2021, before Spain ended that streak.
And in these two years and more, no one has beaten Spain. Even Messi. The Argentinian team who were the masters of the last meeting in this tournament had no answer to this.
Messi took a corner with about four minutes to go before the final whistle and the ball bounced luckily to substitute Giuliano Simeone – who sent it high and over the crossbar, holding his head in disbelief afterwards.
This win made Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who is 65 years old, the oldest coach ever to lead a World Cup winning team. There was some pushing and shoving after the final whistle, which was soon cleared and Spain began to celebrate as most of Argentina's players sat on the floor in disbelief.
Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the second half after picking up his second yellow card, meaning Argentina were forced to finish the match with just ten men. Fernandez was booked for a careless play which sent Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi flying, the card quickly coming off.
It was the 104th and final game of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event played in the US, Canada and Mexico. Because there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than any other tournament.
A star-studded spectacle
The show was not just about soccer.
Celebrities – from all walks of life – were there. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were among the actors in the show.
The NBA had enough talent there to host an All-Star Game, with a lineup that included Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny James, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, James Harden, Jaylenny Brown, Karl-Anthobun Town, Kevin Dueven, Karl-Anthony.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were among tennis royalty, the NFL has names like Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley, two of the greatest American skaters of all time in Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn were at the game – and, of course, there was soccer's David Royagty, Drka Drewbackley. and Zinedine Zidane.
They came to see the show. So did 80,000 other people, not to mention nearly two billion viewers around the world.
Spain did not disappoint.
