FIFA Final Spain vs Argentina
Both nations have shown exceptional quality and an inexhaustible competitive spirit to go all the way to the title decider. Ahead of what promises to be a captivating contest at New York New Jersey Stadium, FIFA looks at the individual duels which could prove decisive.
Messi may have turned 39 just over a fortnight ago, but his mesmerising match-winning ability remains undiminished. The Argentina superstar leads the adidas Golden Boot race with eight goals and has become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. He is also top of the creativity standings in the FIFA Power Rankings, powered by Aramco. Messi has provided four assists, with two of those helping Argentina mount a stunning late comeback to beat England in the semi-finals.
If Spain can limit Messi’s influence, it could go a long way to La Roja winning their second World Cup title. Laporte will be among those faced with that gargantuan task. The Athletic Bilbao player has been in immaculate form and has formed a rock-solid centre-back partnership with 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi. Spain have conceded just one goal in their seven World Cup matches, with Laporte’s composure and authority a key factor behind their outstanding record.
Two midfield titans are primed to go head-to-head in the centre of the park. Spain captain Rodri has been at his dominant best at this World Cup. He has helped La Roja control matches with his laser-like distribution: no player at the competition has completed more than his 648 passes, and he boasts an accuracy rate of 93 per cent. His athleticism has also been on show, with his total distance covered of 83,802 metres another tournament high. His uncanny ability to make crucial interventions to stop opposition attacks, meanwhile, is underlined by the fact he leads the defending category in the Power Rankings.
Rodri will aim to dictate the tempo of Sunday’s final, but will be up against a ferocious competitor in Fernandez. Having won the FIFA Young Player Award at Qatar 2022, the 25-year-old has again shone on the world stage. Fernandez works tirelessly off the ball and has repeatedly won back possession for his team – his 43 forced turnovers are more than any other Argentina player. Fernandez has also contributed vital goals during the knockout phase. First, he popped up with a stoppage-time header to complete Argentina’s remarkable last-16 comeback win over Egypt. And when La Albiceleste’s dreams of a title defence looked to be fading against England in the semi-final, Fernandez powered home a fabulous 85th-minute equaliser.
Perhaps the most electrifying young talent of his generation, Yamal’s influence has steadily grown throughout the tournament. The Barcelona star headed World Cup after a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and, while he may not have hit top gear yet, there are signs he could be peaking at the perfect time. Yamal’s pace and movement led to the penalty which gave Spain the lead in their semi-final against France and he looked extremely sharp throughout. The right winger’s imagination and guile, meanwhile, is highlighted by the fact he is sixth in the Power Rankings for creativity.
Argentina left-back Tagliafico will aim to prevent Yamal wreaking havoc. The Lyon man was part of La Albiceleste’s World Cup-winning side four years ago and has again proved his worth in North America. A true team player, Tagliafico is a strong one-on-one defender and possesses impressive tactical awareness. The 33-year-old has won 82 caps for his country and played 120 minutes of their Qatar 2022 final against France. Tagliafico’s experience of performing, and winning, in the biggest game of all will surely be invaluable when he faces up with Yamal and Co in New York New Jersey.
Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to lift Spain to their second World Cup title with a 1-0 win in extra time over 10-man Argentina in the final.
Torres’s deserved winner on Sunday came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time to lift the Spaniards to their first World Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.
It came on La Roja’s 20th shot in the contest against defending champions Argentina that failed to manage any to that point and struggled to wrest possession away from their superior Iberian opponents.
That was true at even strength and became more difficult when La Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge on Pau Cubarsi left referee Slavko Vincic no choice but to produce a second caution just before the end of normal time.
Spain remain the only nation ever to win a European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments, having now done so a second time. They are also the first World Cup champions ever to concede only once across an entire tournament.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to earn a title for the first time in three major tournaments, having also captured the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World Cup triumph.
The 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, but had little time on the ball in the final until Spain finally took the lead. And he never seriously looked like he would lift his side to another great moment as he has so many times in the last two World Cup cycles.
What had felt so difficult for the first 105 minutes suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second period of extra time.
Pedro Porro curled in an out-swinging cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won the header and nodded it back into space, and Torres hammered a half-volley at last past the flailing Martinez.
It was his only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score during a tournament in which his side never trailed.
Asked about his goal, Torres said after the game: “Honestly, I didn’t think too much. I just saw the ball coming to me, and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people.”
The win made Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65, the oldest coach ever to lead a team to the World Cup title.
“We are world champions,” de la Fuente said. “It was together we reached this stage.”
There was some pushing and shoving after the final whistle, which was quickly cleaned up, and Spain commenced their celebration as most Argentina players sat on the turf in disbelief.
Cooler heads prevailed, and Spain’s players lined up minutes later to form an honour guard of sorts for Argentina’s squad to walk through on their way to the stage for the runner-up medals.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that Spain were the better team.
“They were the better side – that’s the truth – but I’ll cherish the memory of them [his side], of what they achieved, and of the value of making it this far,” Scaloni said.
“We have to place immense value on this, because it takes so much effort.”
On July 11, 2010, Andres Iniesta scored off a volley in the 116th minute to boost Spain to its World Cup title, in a 1-0 win over the Netherlands at Soccer City in Soweto, South Africa. Seven minutes prior, Dutch center back John Heitinga received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in a red card.
On July 19, 2026, Ferran Torres came off the bench to score off a volley in the 106th minute to lift La Roja to a 1-0 victory over Argentina for its second world championship, at MetLife Stadium. Interestingly, three minutes into second-half stoppage time, Argentina's Enzo Fernandez was assessed his second yellow card after a hard foul on center back Pau Cubarsi, at midfield. The defending champions played the rest of the way with 10 men.
No doubt that the Spaniards were deserved winners, as they dominated the match from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. They recorded a World Cup record seventh clean sheet of the competition and conceded only once in eight matches. It must be considered the greatest team defensive performance of the 96-year history of the tournament.
"I never thought of anything like this," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. "I always just wanted joy in moments. When you look back at this process, I would not have achieved anything without these players. The journey with this raw material, this talent. Spanish footballers, the way they compete. These players are amazing."
For a good portion of Sunday’s encounter, the Argentines were kept afloat by an excellent performance by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. He produced 11 saves, some of them spectacular, frustrating Spain time and again.
"If it wasn't for their keeper, we might've had a larger win," de la Fuente said.
Spain did just about everything on the field but score. The European side shut down the Argentines' midfield with its never-ending possession and exceptional press.
While its attempts to play through the midfield failed, Argentina tried to play direct soccer with long balls. However, the South Americans did not have the speed up front to turn any of those passes into scoring threats.
The Spaniards' strategy sounds simple, but the team needs unselfish players who can put their egos aside and play for the team.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon recorded his cup-record seventh shutout as Spain did not concede a shot over 120 minutes. La Roja allowed only one goal in eight encounters. Simon was named winner of the Golden Glove.
On Tuesday, the Spaniards shut out France and the great Kylian Mbappe, who was the Golden Boot winner on the strength of his 10 goals.
On Sunday, they did it to Lionel Messi, considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time, who finished second to Mbappe with eight goals.
Not many, if any, national teams have said that they have stopped the two best scoring threats in the cup over six days.
That’s quite an accomplishment.
Sometimes the World Cup brings about unlikely heroes.
Ferran Torres became the latest example on Sunday.
Entering the final, the forward started only once and hadn’t scored. He replaced team leading scorer Mikel Oyarzabal in the 62nd minute.
In the first minute of the second extra time, Ferran etched his name into World Cup history. From the right flank, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal passed the ball to Pedro Porro, who sent in a right-footed cross into the box. Nico Williams, another second-half substitute, headed the ball back toward Torres. With his left foot, Torres drilled a shot past Martinez for what proved to be the lone goal of the encounter.
"I think in the end the goal belongs to 47 million people, not to me," he said. "Destiny was written; it was made for us to win," he told the media.
"All finals are difficult, but when you have Messi on the opposing team, that nervousness always sets in, but we depended on ourselves, and we proved it once again."
Torres, 26, one of eight Barcelona players on the squad, called the goal, "a huge relief."
"I've been heavily criticized throughout the World Cup, but destiny is written, and thank God who always gives me strength to continue," he said.
De la Fuente was just grateful that Torres came through in the clutch.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards him," de la Fuente said. "He's a great footballer. That will help him to mature and be even a greater footballer than what he is. He's really sacrificed for the collective good. And this is very important in our sport. In my opinion, he's played a great World Cup. And about Ferran, I think that at the end of the day, life is fair and those people are committed and they fight, they bounce back. ... I'm so happy for Him to have scored this goal. He has already made history, and he deserves it."
Lionel Messi, who entered the confrontation with eight goals and five assists, was never much of a factor in the match.
But given his history and what Argentina had accomplished in the knockout rounds, we could never count out him and South Americans.
With Spain clinging to that one-goal edge during stoppage time of the second extra time, the 39-year-old legend, the oldest player to compete in a World Cup final, sent a corner kick into the box. Giuliano Simeone, however, skied his attempt well over the crossbar.
"I feel sad," Messi said. "They were better, to be honest."
The best defense against Messi is to keep the ball away from him and his teammates. He can't do anything when Argentina is forced to chase the game.
"We had a game plan where the first idea was to keep Messi at bay but also other players away from our goal," de la Fuente said. "Something very important was the attitude of our players. We were convinced it was our final and we wanted to go all out for this final. If it wasn't for their keeper we might've had a larger win."
There have been rumors that Messi might have played his final international match. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he did not know of the superstar's plans.
"Truth be told, I didn't speak to Leo," he said.
Not every MVP in soccer has to be the top goal scorer. Sometimes it can a player who is influential on the field with his tactical and technical skills, possession and leadership abilities.
Spain captain and midfielder Rodri fits the bill and then some. His p
Two years ago, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner ruptured his Achilles tendon. But this World Cup proved that the Manchester City standout has returned to top form.
"It feels like the perfect script. I certainly didn't expect this," he said after receiving the award. "This group is incredible. We are two-time world champions. It's a tough feat, the hardest one to achieve. And we won it against a team like Argentina."
Rodri, 30, also praised his teammates.
"This group is incredible," he was quoted by ESPN. "We are two-time world champions. It's a tough feat, the hardest one to achieve. And we won it against a team like Argentina.
“I'm proud and I would love for new generations to see that it is possible. That a player who touches the sky and then plummets to hell is also capable of rising again. It is an example of overcoming adversity, and you have to believe. Honestly, it's incredible.”
After his team was outplayed by Spain, Scaloni cried at his postgame press conference.
"It hurts. It hurts my soul. I am sorry," he said.
That’s how much Scaloni was invested in his team.
It was an emotional defeat for Scaloni and Argentina (7-1-0), which entered the match with seven successive World Cup wins. The Argentines lived on the edge in the knockout round, pulling off four consecutive victories late in the match or in extra time. No team had accomplished that until this tourney.
"I can see that people are aware of what we've achieved, how we've achieved this, especially because I already cried my heart out in the locker room," he said. "That's why I'm not crying now. But I do have to be thankful to this group because they were warriors, and that is the truth. We competed against an amazing team. Every Spanish player who came to greet us, they told us that they were really surprised by how competitive we were. This is very positive, and I hope that future generations also are influenced by this."
Posted on 2026/07/20 11:10 AM