Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup title on Sunday after defeating 10-man Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the second period of extra time, finishing calmly after a brilliant knock-back from Nico Williams to hand the European champions a hard-fought victory.
Spain dominated possession for much of the contest but found it difficult to break down Argentina’s disciplined defence. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a series of impressive saves to keep the holders in the game.
The turning point came in second-half stoppage time when Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí.
With Argentina reduced to 10 men, Spain continued to press in extra time before eventually finding the breakthrough through Torres.
Luis de la Fuente’s side completed an outstanding tournament, conceding only one goal in seven matches while impressing with their disciplined defence and possession-based style of play.
Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, showed resilience throughout the competition, recovering from difficult situations in the knockout stages, including a comeback victory over Egypt and a come-from-behind win against England in the semi-finals, but fell short in the final.
