Spain secured the World Cup with a 1‑0 victory over Argentina in extra time, the decisive moment arriving in the 106th minute when substitute Ferran Torres finished a low drive that slipped past the Argentine keeper.
The final was marked by a striking lack of goalmouth action; Argentina failed to register a single shot on target, while Spain enjoyed 20 attempts, 12 of them on target, yet could not convert many of those chances.
Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65 years old, became the oldest coach to lift the trophy, a milestone that underscored a generational shift for the Spanish side. The match also saw a late brawl as Argentine frustrations boiled over, a scene that contrasted with the subdued atmosphere on the pitch.
A new chapter for Spanish football
The triumph marks a new era for Spanish football, one that will be remembered not for fireworks but for its gritty resilience. Messi, usually the spark for Argentina, appeared a pale shadow of his former self and could not ignite a response.
Substitutes Torres and Nico Williams injected energy into a drab affair, but it was Torres' 106th‑minute strike that ultimately decided the contest, leaving the tournament's final chapter defined by tension rather than flair.