Report, result and goals as La Roja beat Messi to claim second World Cup title
Spain are world champions for the second time. Ferran Torres’ goal 37 seconds into the second half of extra time settled a tense final as Argentina eventually ran out of steam.
It was a fitting end to a tournament that Spain dominated throughout. They outplayed the defending champions for a long time, but it took some time for Torres to level up, latching on to Nico Williams’s cross from Porro’s cross and firing into the roof of the net, to separate the two sides after a frustrating 105 minutes.
Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first country to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 ended with Gio Simeone’s header blazing over Simon’s crossbar in the final minutes of extra time.
A tactical battle dominated a goalless first half
This event had a lot of weight in the opening trade. Argentina, knowing this was almost Lionel Messi’s last World Cup game, set out to frustrate and disrupt rather than dominate.
Spain improved in the half without doing anything clear. Yamal’s deflected effort in the fifth minute was well saved by Emiliano Martinez, and Oyarzabal forced the goalkeeper into a great save on 39 minutes after Rodri and Fabian Ruiz combined well.
Argentina was even more toothless. They failed to register a single shot in the first half – the first time on record that any team went out without a single shot in the World Cup finals – with Messi managing just two touches in the first 20 minutes.
Lisandro Martinez was forced off with an injury before half-time, leaving Otamendi in a cage that was already struggling to stop Spain’s moves.
The halftime show featuring Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS may have been the most entertaining 30 minutes of halftime.
Fernandez’s red card is a surprise for Argentina
The last minute of normal time came in the 90th minute. Enzo Fernandez, already booked for the offence, carelessly collided with Cubarsi chasing a loose ball and was given a straight red card.
Argentina, who had been holding on for 90 minutes with ten men threatening, now face extra time against the tightest team in the tournament.
Emiliano Martinez was extraordinary throughout. His ten saves in the final set the record for any goalkeeper in a World Cup final since 1966, producing superb saves to deny Torres, Laporte and Yamal.
Williams had a goal disallowed in the opening minutes of extra time for Merino’s foul on Otamendi in the build-up, a VAR intervention that angered the Spanish bench but was the right call.
Merino himself came within inches of ending the deadlock moments later, his glancing header from Williams’s delivery drifting into the right corner.
Torres wins it, Spain holds on
The breakthrough came immediately after the restart of the second half of extra time. Porro’s searching ball at the back post found Williams, who showed skill to direct it into the path of Torres.
The Barcelona striker did not need a second invitation, hitting a left-footed strike into the roof of the net. Spain ahead.
Argentina threw everything forward in the last fifteen minutes. Otamendi went forward. Messi stood on top of every set.
Simeone opened up the closest chance, a close-range shot from Messi’s corner, over the bar and a goal gap in the 120th minute.
It wasn’t enough. Merino, who was covered in blood when he blocked the ball that was bent by Messi in the face in the 117th minute, was welcomed by a hero. Spain saw seconds remaining, and referee Slavko Vincic blew the final whistle.
Spain are world champions. Yamal, 17 years old and already the most exciting player in the world, has a World Cup winner’s medal.
For Messi, there are no more mountains to climb. He leaves the tournament with 21 World Cup goals in six competitions, a record that will be preserved for generations. On a night Spain should have won, his legacy remains untouched.
