Argentina 0-1 Spain
Spain are the World Champions and totally deserved too, as they beat Argentina thanks to a Ferran Torres extra time goal in as one sided a match as you could expect to see in a final.
All eyes were on Lionel Messi as Argentina tried to win their fourth World Cup 2026 title but while the Albiceleste showed all their skills in the dark arts they could only muster a single shot in 125 minutes of football.
La Roja, the best outfit in the tournament, were the only team playing football in this final and are worthy winners.
Highlights of the game
In a breathtaking start to the game Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez made a reaction save to keep an angled effort from Lamine Yamal out and, as expected, the Albiceleste tried to disrupt the Spaniards, Alexis MacAllister clattering into Dani Olmo, the Liverpool man escaping an early yellow card. But then Olmo took his frustration out on Enzo Fernandez soon after to make his point.
It was a cagy first half with much of the game played in front of the Argentina defence, and on 38 minutes Mikel Oyarzabal took a knock down from Olmo and forced a smart save from Martinez.
So, 0-0 at the break.
Spain, as expected looked the more likely to score. The way the Albiceleste fought back to beat England on Wednesday, there will always be a threat from Messi’s men, but they didn’t register a single shot in the first 45; in fact, they didn’t look any less likely during the hydration break!
Alex Baena tested Martinez with a long-range effort in the first minute of the second half and Spain’s passing and movement began to look slick and sharp, while Argentina stuck their boots in at every opportunity; and then Martinez spilled a dipping Olmo shot but it bounced out safely for a corner. Ferran Torres on as a substitute for Oyarzabal met a cross from Yamal but planted his header into the grateful arms of the Argentina keeper.
When the final hydration break of the tournament came, Argentina still hadn’t had a shot and only one touch in the Spain penalty area. But I doubt they were worried about their contribution in terms of World Cup 2026 highlights, as Spain began to pile on the pressure, Pau Cubarsi forcing an awkward save from Martinez. But La Albiceleste held out to make it to extra time, but with only ten men as Fernandez received a second yellow card for an insane foul on Cubarsi.
Nico Willaims thought he’d taken the lead when he slotted his shot past Martinez, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolas Otamendi, who made an awful lot of the challenge. And then when Williams crossed for Merino his header glanced inches wide of the post. The Argentina fans were jubilant with the prospect of penalties looming, but 39 seconds into the second period of extra time the Albiceleste were undone. When Williams kept a deep cross alive, the ball broke to Torres and he lashed it home to send the Roja fans wild.
Key statistics
The World Cup 2026 betting odds backed Spain to win the tournament from the off and they were the only side to put in an attacking effort in the whole game, with three shots to nil and two on target by half time. The half hour half time break, opened by Queen of Pop Madonna and featuring the Muppets and Ted Lasso was different, I guess!
Argentina have become the first side on record, over 60 years, not to have a shot in the opening 90 minutes of a World Cup final, while Spain had registered 15, and 10 on target. And they ended up with one shot, on 121 minutes, to La Roja’s 20.
At 39 years of age Messi was the second oldest player to appear in a World Cup final behind only Italy’s legendary keeper Dino Zoff who was 40 at the 1982 tournament. And the age differential between Messi and Yamal at 20 years is the biggest ever in World Cup final history.
What’s next?
The next international competitions for these two nations are just around the corner as Spain will be involved in the UEFA Nations League while Argentina will look to defend their Copa America title in their next campaign.
And then, as domestic football comes back into focus, there’s plenty for SBOTOP football fans to get stuck into. Messi will be back in action with Inter Miami while many of his team-mates will be playing in Europe’s top leagues, Lautaro Martinez hoping to lead Inter Milan to successive Scudettos.
Spain’s Barcelona contingent must fancy defending their La Liga title when the Spanish league kicks off while Marc Cucurella has joined El Clasico rivals Real Madrid, managed once again by Jose Mourinho, 13 years after he was last at the Santiago Bernabeu. There’s a lot to look forward to but tonight, La Roja can celebrate like there’s no tomorrow.
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