Spain Wins 2026 World Cup Title With Extra-Time Goal Against Argentina

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Substitute forward Ferran Torres scored a volley in the 106th minute to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The victory earns Spain its second men's World Cup trophy and denies Argentina a consecutive global championship.

Credit: FIFA / X

Spain controlled the tempo of the entire match, keeping 67% of possession and outshooting Argentina 20 to 2. Argentina played the entire extra time period with 10 players after midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card in the 93rd minute for a late tackle on defender Pau Cubarsí.

The decisive play happened in the opening minute of the second half of extra time. Defender Pedro Porro sent a cross to the far post, where winger Nico Williams headed the ball down into the center of the penalty box. Torres ran onto the bouncing ball and used his left foot to hit a shot past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez into the roof of the net.

Torres entered the match as a substitute in the 62nd minute and later described the winning moment to reporters.

"It was a goal scored by 47 million people,"

Torres said, referring to the population of Spain.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez stopped 12 shots during the match, setting a record for the most saves in a World Cup final. His most significant save occurred in the final seconds of normal time when he dove to his left to deflect a curling 22-yard free kick from Spain winger Lamine Yamal.

Spain created multiple goal-scoring opportunities throughout the first 90 minutes but could not get the ball past Martínez. Dani Olmo set up Yamal for a low shot in the fifth minute, and Mikel Oyarzabal forced another save from Martínez right before halftime. Argentina did not record a single shot during regulation time and struggled to pass the ball into the Spanish half of the field.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi played the full match in what was his final career World Cup appearance. Messi finished the 2026 tournament with eight goals and four assists, but he rarely received the ball in attacking areas during the final match. Argentina had a final opportunity to equalize in the 120th minute when Giuliano Simeone shot over the crossbar following a Messi corner kick.

Congratulations to Spain, @FIFAWorldCup 2026 winners! 👏🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/YjMqpcndR0

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 19, 2026

The tournament ended with several individual awards for the Spanish team. Midfielder Rodri won the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament, and Unai Simón received the Golden Glove award as the top goalkeeper. Cubarsí won the Young Player of the Tournament award.

Spain set a defensive record by conceding only one goal throughout the entire month-long tournament. The win makes Spain the first nation to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles at the same time.

Credit: FIFA / X

Following the final whistle, referee Slavko Vincic showed a red card to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes for an altercation on the field. The Argentina team fell short of its goal to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962. US President Donald Trump presented the trophy to the Spanish team during the post-match ceremony on the pitch.