It was the victory of a concept, of a shared identity. Of a steadfast, patient belief. And when it ended, with Spain’s new generation mirroring the achievements of the 2010 World Cup side and all those iconic figures, they were swept up in pure euphoria.
Spain were the only side truly present in this World Cup final, from the opening whistle through to the end of extra time.
Argentina were undone by their lack of ambition even before Enzo Fernández was sent off late in normal time. Remarkably, they failed to register a shot on goal until the 115th minute.
Spain refused to let them play, just as they have scarcely allowed any opponent to do throughout this tournament. Their defence has been the foundation of everything, with only a single goal conceded across their eight matches.
The only issue that weighed on their minds was whether they could break through the sky-blue-and-white defensive lines. It was the defining question.
Spain remained faithful to their identity and style: their possession play, their fluid, collective movement, their command of the game. When they finally discovered the solution, they understood that a second World Cup title was on the verge of becoming a magnificent reality.
The breakthrough arrived in the 106th minute when Pedro Porro delivered a deep cross, met by a superb headed pass from substitute Nico Williams. It set up another substitute, Ferran Torres, for the chance of his career. His shot was struck high and clean.
Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, appeared to be on the verge of tears. His team’s journey to this point had been a nerve-racking ordeal, driven by late goals and an unyielding determination. In none of their knockout matches did they hold the lead at the 90-minute mark.
Argentina showed a brief late surge. Substitute Guiliano Simeone drove a half-chance over the bar.
But there would be no repeat of their 2022 title triumph, no storybook farewell for Lionel Messi. He could not hold back his tears as he looked toward the Argentina supporters afterward.
Messi and his side had triumphed in their previous three tournaments, winning two Copa Américas on either side of the last World Cup. They had not been beaten in a knockout match since the 2019 Copa América. Their outcome here matched their performance.
After full time, an ugly incident occurred when Leandro Paredes, who had entered as a substitute, was shown a red card for seizing Spain’s substitute Eric García by the throat.
Argentina’s behavior after the loss was shameful. When the trophy was awarded, they turned their backs on the Spain players and instead faced the fans behind one of the goals.
Donald Trump, who remained on stage as Spain’s captain, Rodri, hoisted the six-kilogram solid-gold prize, was not the only person to seek the spotlight.
Overall, it was quite a spectacle in a place already known for grand displays.
Proceedings began with a ceremony to formally conclude what was arguably the most bloated tournament yet, featuring a wide range of performances. Jennifer Hudson’s version of the US national anthem before kick-off was certainly memorable, as was Tom Cruise’s address about the beauty of the game.
The match began six minutes behind schedule, and the halftime interval was packed with further entertainment. The football itself, however, never matched the surrounding spectacle.
Argentina’s only early opening came when Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simón, rushed off his line to intercept a Julián Álvarez through ball aimed for Messi. His clearance went straight to Álvarez, but the forward’s first touch let him down. Beyond that, Argentina offered virtually nothing in attack.
