Ferran Torres’ Extra-time Goal Crowns Spain World Champions

Spain are the champions of the 2026 World Cup after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final on Sunday. 

Ferran Torres, a second-half substitute, was the hero after breaking the deadlock in the 106th minute of extra time to win Spain their second World Cup trophy.

Argentina had no shots on target throughout the entire 120 minutes, as Lionel Messi missed out on a chance to clinch another World Cup trophy.

The match was billed as the face-off between Messi and Lamine Yamal, who is widely regarded as his heir apparent. The old photos of a 20-year-old Messi bathing a 5-month-old Yamal for a UNICEF fundraising campaign circulated online to underscore the almost prophetic encounter between the two players.

But it was Yamal and Spain that had the upper hand and never looked like losing throughout the one-sided final.

Spain’s signature midfield strangulation, anchored by Rodri, dictates tempo and controls possession. Emiliano Martínez, Argentina goalkeeper,  had to make numerous saves as the Spanish team had 63 percent of the ball possession and had 11 shots on target.

As regulation time waned, Argentina’s emotional intensity boiled over. In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card following a reckless challenge, reducing the defending champions to 10 men right before the extra-time whistle.

With a numerical advantage, Spain smelled blood. De la Fuente tactically rotated his squad, bringing on fresh legs, including Eric García and Martín Zubimendi, while keeping target man Ferran Torres central to the attack.

The breakthrough finally materialised just after the extra-time interval. In the 106th minute, a slick, incisive string of Spanish passes sliced through a tiring Argentine low block. The ball found Ferran Torres, who calmly slotted it past a sprawling Emiliano Martínez, sending the travelling Spanish contingent at MetLife into pure delirium. A swift VAR review for a potential offside confirmed what eventually was the winning goal.