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Finally the grand finale! Spain win the World Cup again after 16 years, and the legendary Messi bids farewell

After a grueling 120 minutes, Spain won 1-0 over defending champions Argentina in extra time, with a winning goal from substitute striker Ferran Torres, to claim the 2026 World Cup title. This is Spain’s second time lifting the trophy since the 2010 South Africa World Cup, and it marks the team’s return to the highest podium of an international tournament again after topping European football in 2023’s UEFA Nations League and 2024’s European Championship. For Argentina, while they failed to successfully defend the title, reaching the finals in two consecutive World Cups still continues this team’s dominance in world football in recent years, and the 38-year-old Lionel Messi also closes his World Cup career with a legendary finale.

Spain grinds out the title

The final was held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the United States. Facing the defending champions Argentina, Spain continued the possession-based, control-oriented style they have consistently shown throughout this World Cup, while Argentina hoped to find opportunities through counterattacks led by Messi, Juli á n lvarez, and others.

After the match began, Spain quickly took firm control. Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Fabi á n Ruiz, and others repeatedly pressed Argentina’s back line by stringing together passes and making runs from the midfield and front, clearly dominating both possession and shots. However, against Spain’s relentless attacks, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Mart í nez was in top form, making multiple crucial saves to keep the score at 0-0 throughout.

By contrast, under Spain’s high press and midfield control, Argentina struggled for a long time to organize an effective attack. Messi had to drop back frequently to receive the ball and try to link up the team, but he still could not help create enough truly threatening chances. After 90 minutes of intense action, both sides still ended up with a blank score, and the match went into stoppage time.

In stoppage time in regular time, the situation on the pitch changed dramatically. Argentina midfielder Enzo Fern á ndez was sent off by the referee after receiving two yellow cards, forcing the defending champions to face extra time with 10 men. This decision also became an important turning point in the match.

With the numerical advantage, Spain continued to pressure Argentina’s goal. Not long after the second half of extra time began, substitute Nico Williams won the aerial duel on the left, floated the ball into the box, and another substitute, Torres, seized the chance to shoot and score the match’s only goal, giving Spain the lead.

Trailing Argentina then tried to launch the final counterattack, but playing with one fewer man made it hard for the team to sustain pressure. In the end, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup again for the first time in 16 years.

A generation of legend: Messi’s farewell

As the second player to reach the World Cup final for a third time, following Brazilian legend Cafu, Argentina’s soul figure Messi was subdued in this match—far from his peak form—and he failed to single-handedly ignite the whole squad and turn the tide.

After losing this final, the 39-year-old Messi is highly likely to say goodbye to international football. There were already many signs pointing to this; for example, Messi himself had previously said publicly that a World Cup qualifier match at home against Venezuela last year would be his last official appearance for the national team on Argentinian soil. Back then, Messi said: " On this pitch, I’ve experienced too much—good, and not-so-good. I will keep those good moments forever in my heart."

Spain led by De la Fuente

After this match, Spain extended their unbeaten run to 38 games (29 wins, 9 draws), officially surpassing Italy (37 games unbeaten between October 2018 and September 2021, with 28 wins and 9 draws) to become the exclusive holder of the longest unbeaten record in the history of Europe’s men’s national teams. In addition, with Spain’s men’s team winning the title this time boosted by their women’s team’s 2023 World Cup championship, Spain became the first country in history to hold both men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.

For Spain, this World Cup crown means the team has officially completed the transition from old to new and has returned to the summit of world football. In recent years, under head coach Luis de la Fuente, Spain has gradually gone through renewal. Young players like Yamal and Pau Cubars í have rapidly developed, and together with mid-generation core figures such as Rodri, Ruiz, and Olmo, the team rebuilt an overall approach that combines technical quality, control, and match tempo.

" I’m extremely proud of this generation of players. They grew up in this football philosophy, always holding onto their original intention, and they’ve carried it forward and developed it. They are not just a team—they’re like a family, setting an example for everyone. They are outstanding, world-class players, with extraordinary talent." De la Fuente told reporters after the match, " I’m very moved. Looking back at what came before, thinking of them—we won everything, all of it, thanks to this generation of players."