Spain win World Cup 2026: Ferran Torres strike beats Argentina — Rodri wins Golden Ball as La Roja conquer the world

20 July 2026 | New Jersey, USA — Updated 04:30 GMT

It was the triumph of an idea, an identity. Of an unshakable and patient faith. And when it was over, Spain's new generation having emulated the one from the 2010 World Cup, all of those legendary names, there was simply delirium for them.

Spain were the only team that turned up to play this World Cup final, from the first whistle to the last in extra time. Argentina were damned by their lack of ambition even before they had Enzo Fernández sent off towards the end of the regulation time. It was extraordinary to report that they did not have an attempt on goal until the 115th minute.

Spain did not let them play. Just as they have barely let any of their opponents do so during the course of this tournament. Their miserly defence has been the cornerstone of everything. They have been breached just once in their eight matches.

The goal came in the 106th minute and it was nothing less than they deserved. Pedro Porro crossed deep and it was a wonderful header back by the substitute Nico Williams. It teed up another replacement, Ferran Torres, for the opportunity of his lifetime. The finish was high and true.

Welcome to the final of the 2026 World Cup — where Spain conquered the world.

Spain Win World Cup After Ferran Torres Breaks Argentina's Resistance

It was the triumph of an idea, an identity. Of an unshakable and patient faith. And when it was over, Spain's new generation having emulated the one from the 2010 World Cup, all of those legendary names, there was simply delirium for them.

Spain were the only team that turned up to play this World Cup final, from the first whistle to the last in extra time. Argentina were damned by their lack of ambition even before they had Enzo Fernández sent off towards the end of the regulation time. It was extraordinary to report that they did not have an attempt on goal until the 115th minute.

Spain did not let them play. Just as they have barely let any of their opponents do so during the course of this tournament. Their miserly defence has been the cornerstone of everything. They have been breached just once in their eight matches.

The goal came in the 106th minute and it was nothing less than they deserved. Pedro Porro crossed deep and it was a wonderful header back by the substitute Nico Williams. It teed up another replacement, Ferran Torres, for the opportunity of his lifetime. The finish was high and true.

The Argentina manager, Lionel Scaloni, looked ready to cry. It was a white knuckle ride that carried his team to this stage, defined by late goals and a never-say-die spirit. At no point in any of their knock-out games were they ahead in the 90th minute.

A Ceremony of Excess: Trump, Infantino and the Trophy Presentation

It ended almost as Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump had planned. Earlier on a seemingly endless World Cup final day the trophy had, in a scene perfectly of a piece with the event's excess, been let out of a Louis Vuitton trunk. Now they shuffled up to the podium together and presented it to a beaming Rodri, fumbling the moment slightly when Trump lingered for Spain's team photo.

Within moments they had made their exit, golden glitter sparkling on a bobbly pitch and the reverberations from a football event of unprecedented scale pulsing far beyond this concreted mini-state in New Jersey.

How to make sense of a heady, intoxicating, often deeply strange tournament that at once appeared fulsomely welcoming and chillingly distant? It concluded with a disorientating fever dream beneath a bright blue American sky, football appearing a sideshow for much of the afternoon even if the game did not exactly help itself. Anyone straining for a parable could, if they wanted, take pleasure in Spain's success. This was ultimately the triumph of a collective idea in a World Cup nurtured to indulge the cult of the individual.

Spain Sweep Individual Awards: Rodri Wins Golden Ball

Rodri wins the Golden Ball. And people thought he was over the hill. The Spain midfielder has been back to his metronomic, unflappable best at this World Cup, and a deserving winner. He gets a "well played" from Trump, and a trophy to go alongside his Ballon d'Or. Somewhere in Brazil, Vinícius Jr turns the telly off.

Pau Cubarsí wins young player of the tournament. The Barcelona centre-back gets the nod over teammate and clubmate Lamine Yamal, and it's thoroughly deserved; Spain conceded one goal in the entire tournament. On that theme, Unai Simón has won the Golden Glove – and opts against a repeat of Emi Martínez's antics in 2022 with the trophy.

Extra Time Drama: Merino Goes Close, Martínez Saves Again

The question that came to pound concerned Spain's ability to find a way through the sky blue and white ranks. It was the only question. Spain stayed true to their style; to who they are. The possession. The cohesive movements. The control. When they found the answer, it was the moment when they knew that a second World Cup triumph was about to become gloriously real.

Argentina flickered in the very closing stages. The substitute Guiliano Simeone lashed a half chance high. But there would be no successful defence of the title they won in 2022; no fairytale sign-off for Lionel Messi. He could not suppress the tears as he gazed at the Argentina support afterwards.

Argentina's Shameful Reaction: Red Cards and Turning Their Backs

Messi and his team had won their previous three tournaments – two Copa Américas either side of the last World Cup. They had not lost a knockout tie since the 2019 Copa América. They got what they deserved here. There was an ugly flashpoint after full time when Leandro Paredes, who had come on as a substitute, was given a red card for grabbing the Spain replacement Eric García by the throat.

Argentina's reaction in defeat was shameful. They turned their backs on the Spain players as the trophy was presented, preferring to keep their eyes on the fans behind one of the goals. Donald Trump, who did not want to leave the stage as the Spain captain, Rodri, got his hands on those six kilograms of solid gold bliss, was not the only person to make a spectacle of himself.

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