{"id":813816,"date":"2026-07-20T08:46:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T08:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/813816\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T08:46:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T08:46:14","slug":"world-cup-final-spain-wins-beating-argentina-1-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/813816\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup Final: Spain wins, beating Argentina 1-0"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is how good Spain was at the World Cup: Not even Lionel Messi had any answers.<\/p>\n

And when it was over, Spain walked off with the trophy. Messi simply walked off in tears.<\/p>\n

Spain is back atop the soccer world for a second time, after Ferran Torres\u2019 first goal of this year\u2019s World Cup \u2014 unquestionably the goal of his life \u2014 gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champion Argentina in the final on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a goal scored by 47 million people,\u201d Torres said, referring to Spain\u2019s population.<\/p>\n

Maybe not by them \u2014 but certainly for them.<\/p>\n

\"\"Spain’s Ferran Torres (7) celebrates scoring their first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez) Spain’s Ferran Torres (7) celebrates scoring their first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez) <\/p>\n

It 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.<\/p>\n

From there, the airtight defence that dominated opponents throughout the tournament came through one final time. Spain \u2014 which also won the title in 2010 \u2014 allowed only one goal in eight matches in this World Cup run, setting a record for fewest goals allowed by a champion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel pride, to be honest,\u201d said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who at 65 is now the oldest man to lead a team to a World Cup title. \u201cAccompanying them on this journey is an honour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Referee Slavko Vincic, of Slovenia, shows a red card to Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Frank Franklin II) Referee Slavko Vincic, of Slovenia, shows a red card to Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Frank Franklin II) Spain gets a World Cup 1st<\/p>\n

This title, combined with the Women\u2019s World Cup won by Spain in 2023, makes the European nation the first to hold both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s titles simultaneously.<\/p>\n

The score indicates this match was close, but only one team was in command.<\/p>\n

Spain took the game\u2019s first 20 shots on goal before Argentina \u2014 desperate for an equalizer \u2014 got its first attempt off in the second half of extra time. Spain took nine of the game\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cDibu was nothing short of exceptional,\u201d de la Fuente said, referring to Argentina\u2019s keeper by his nickname.<\/p>\n

Spain is now unbeaten in its last 38 matches \u2014 29 wins, nine draws \u2014 and now is the outright holder of the longest such streak by any European men\u2019s team ever. Italy went 37 matches (28 wins, nine draws) from October 2018 through September 2021, before Spain ended that streak.<\/p>\n

And for the last two-plus years, nobody has beaten Spain. Not even Messi. An Argentina team that was the kings of the late-game rally in this tournament had no answer this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost the game, and we accept that,\u201d Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean that we will forget everything we\u2019ve done so far, so I\u2019d like to thank my people, my players and the country. I can tell them that we played our hearts out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Dani Olmo Spain’s Dani Olmo heads the ball above Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez, right, during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis) Spain survives a late push<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 who sent it high and over the crossbar, holding his head in disbelief afterward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous,\u201d Torres said. \u201cAt the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was some pushing and shoving after the final whistle, which was quickly cleaned up and Spain commenced its celebration as most Argentina players sat solemnly on the turf. Cooler heads prevailed, and Spain\u2019s players lined up minutes later to form an honour guard of sorts for Argentina\u2019s squad to walk through on its way to the stage for the runner-up medals from President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think now I\u2019m in a cloud,\u201d said Spain midfielder Rodri, the Golden Ball winner as the tournament\u2019s best player.<\/p>\n

Argentina was forced to finish the match with only 10 players after Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after getting his second yellow card. Fernandez was carded for a reckless play that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air, and the card came out immediately.<\/p>\n

\"\"Lionel Messi, Alex Baena Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball near Spain’s Alex Baena (15) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Pamela Smith) Defence led Spain to a title<\/p>\n

It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event that played out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Because there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than all other editions \u2014 more than 300, nearly three per match.<\/p>\n

Except, of course, when Spain was involved. Spain\u2019s plan was simple and flawless: Hold the ball as much as possible, denying opponents any hint of chances.<\/p>\n

It worked, all the way to the end.<\/p>\n

Messi is 39 and the math certainly suggests that the Inter Miami star is at the end of his international career. There have been hints \u2014 such as Messi himself declaring that a home World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela last year would be his final competitive contest for Argentina on his nation\u2019s soil.<\/p>\n

\"\"Argentina Spain WCup Soccer Tom Cruise speaks during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. <\/p>\n

\u201cI experienced a lot of things on this pitch, good and not so good,\u201d Messi said that night. \u201cI\u2019ll take the good with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He retired from the national team after losing a Copa America final to Chile \u2014 in the same stadium he played in Sunday \u2014 a decade ago, then came back a few weeks later after changing his mind.<\/p>\n

Good thing he did, because in that decade he went from superstar to absolute icon.<\/p>\n

There was the World Cup title in 2022. There were two Copa America titles, the first in 2021 and the second in 2024. He won Argentina\u2019s player of the year award 16 times in a span of 19 years, first winning it as a teenager and continuing to win it all the way into his late 30s.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a legend within the game and on all corners of the globe. But Spain was better Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI spoke to my players, and they said: \u2018Look, we\u2019ve won everything, coach. We\u2019ve won everything,\u2019\u201d de la Fuente said. \u201cAnd that is beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"President Donald Trump, right, and first lady Melania Trump attend the World Cup championship final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin) President Donald Trump, right, and first lady Melania Trump attend the World Cup championship final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin) A final unlike any other<\/p>\n

The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer.<\/p>\n

Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira were all part of a halftime show that also featured Burna Boy, Jason Sudeikis in character as \u201cTed Lasso\u201d and even some of the Muppets. Jennifer Hudson, Post Malone and Tom Cruise had roles in the closing ceremony, which actually preceded the match.<\/p>\n

A slew of actors, athletes and other celebrities were there: Spain\u2019s Javier Bardem left happy, Luciana Barroso Damon \u2014 the wife of actor Matt Damon \u2014 probably did not, considering she was wearing the colors of her native Argentina.<\/p>\n

They all came to see a show. So did 80,000 other people, not to mention perhaps as many as 2 billion watching around the globe.<\/p>\n

Spain didn\u2019t disappoint. No team has won back-to-back men\u2019s World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, and Spain kept Argentina from pulling off that repeat.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I told the lads before the game, we have to go for the game, we need to face them, we have to look to their eyes and say we want this game,\u201d Rodri said. \u201cAnd then, life gives you the World Cup or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spain took it instead.<\/p>\n

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press<\/p>\n

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