By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Image@SpainIsFootball.
Barcelona winger Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game on Sunday as Spain beat 10-man Argentina 1-0 after extra-time to win their second World Cup.
The game that was almost ruined by Argentina’s deliberate spoiling tactics, which backfired when they were reduced to 10 men for extra time by the late dismissal of Enzo Fernández for two yellow cards.
Spain had dominated throughout, having 20 shots to an extraordinary two from Argentina – both as they chased an equaliser –and were finally rewarded when Torres broke the deadlock in the 106th minute.
Pedro Porro’s cross to the back post was kept in play brilliantly by Nico Williams, with Torres pouncing to fire beyond Emi Martínez and send the Spanish into raptures.
Martínez had performed brilliantly to keep Argentina in the contest with a string of superb saves, but most neutrals and the many celebrities in attendance will have been pleased to see him finally beaten given his side’s cynical tactics.
Argentina did not even attempt a shot on goal until the 115th minute when Lionel Messi, making his final World Cup appearance, struck the ball at the head of Mikel Merino.
There were ugly scenes after the final whistle, with Argentina’s Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes in particular reacting aggressively and players briefly scrapped. Paredes shoved Gavi to the turf and was sent off.
For Spain, it won its second Men’s FIFA World Cup trophy, and did so in similar fashion to 2010 with a 1-0 victory in extra time.
Celebrities — from all walks of life — were there. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were among the actors at the game.
Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were among the tennis royalty watching; the NFL had names like Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley in attendance, two of the greatest U.S. skiers ever in Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn were at the match — and, of course, there were soccer royalty with the likes of Kaka, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane.
Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe has become the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice after earning the award for top scorer at the 2026 tournament.
Mbappe is also the men’s World Cup all-time top scorer with 22 goals – one ahead of Messi.
England’s Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland of Norway scored seven times, while France forward Ousmane Dembele and English captain Harry Kane followed them in the list with six.
Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, Unai Simon won the Golden Glove for the top performance by a goalkeeper, and Pau Curbasi won the Best Young Player award, beating out fellow 19-year-old teammate Lamine Yamal.