Ferran Torres says his target is for the “47 million people” in Spain after La Roja overcame their fears of facing Lionel Messi to win the 2026 World Cup final.
Barcelona’s Torres scored in the 106th minute in New Jersey to ensure that Messi, 39, failed to win a second consecutive World Cup title which could prove to be the last international game.
“The conclusion was written,” instead of Torres, with AS. “We are here to win.
“When every final game is difficult, when you have Messi as an opponent, that is scary. We [played] more than football.”
2026 World Cup final: Spain beat Argentina
In a storming game, Argentina had Enzo Fernandez sent off in extra time in the second half of normal time.
“In the end, the goal was for 47 million people, not just me among the 26 [Spain players],” said the 26-year-old Torres.
“[It’s] great relief. I have been criticized a lot during the World Cup. I thank God who always gives me the strength to continue.”
2026 World Cup Final: Team Spain vs Argentina
Spain were unchanged from their semi-final victory over France, with Torres replacing Mikel Oyarzabal in the 62nd minute.
Spain starting XI: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal
Spain instead: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Gavi, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias
2026 World Cup Final: Argentina to face Spain
Argentina made three changes from their last four win over England, replacing Rodrigo De Paul, Nico Gonzalez and Gonzalo Montiel for Giuliano Simeone, Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina.
Argentina XI: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Nico Gonzalez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi
Argentina instead: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez
Spain vs Argentina: Final statistics for the 2026 World Cup
- It was the first time that the Copa America champions faced the former European champions in the World Cup final.
- Argentina became the sixth champions to reach the World Cup final – the first two were wins (Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962), but the last four were defeats (Argentina in 1990 and 2026, Brazil in 1998 and France in 2022).
- It was the first time that the two countries ranked first (Argentina) and second (Spain) in the FIFA rankings met at any stage of the World Cup.
- Messi’s side were competing in their seventh World Cup final, only Germany have played more (8)
- This captain became the second player in the history of the World Cup to appear in three finals (2014, 2022 and 2026), along with Cafu from Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002).
- At 39 years and 25 days old, Messi became the oldest foreign player to play in the final
- Having won all seven of their matches in the 2026 edition, Argentina failed to become the first team since Brazil in 2002 (they won 7/7) to have a 100% winning record in one edition.
- Spain’s total of seven clean sheets is the most of any team in a single World Cup competition and is unbeaten in its last 38 matches in all competitions since a 1-0 loss to Colombia in March 2024.
- They have the longest unbeaten streak by a European nation
