New Delhi: Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal at the start of the second half of extra time as Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 on Sunday to
win their second FIFA World Cup title in a largely frustrating final. The European champions controlled the game from start to finish but were unable to score until just 37 seconds after the last restart. Substitute Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro’s cross back into the danger area, allowing fellow substitute Ferran Torres to fire a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
Argentina were reduced to 10 men when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card in stoppage time at the end of the initial 90 minutes and had been looking to become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive titles but failed to fire a single shot at the Spain goal until that point.
With their title on the line, the defending champions finally showed some attacking intent in the final minutes, but it was a little late, and their captain Lionel Messi was destined to end up on the losing side in his third and probably last World Cup final.
Spain’s substitute players rushed onto the pitch to celebrate their historic feat, matching the nation’s 2010 World Cup triumph, while tensions boiled over as Argentina players became involved in an ugly on-field confrontation.
Lamine Yamal almost wrapped up the title for his team at the end of normal time, curling a free kick over the wall, but Emi Martinez produced another brilliant save.
The Argentina goalkeeper made an even better stop to deny a close-range header from Williams early in the first half of extra time, and although he was finally beaten by the winger just three minutes later, the referee ruled out the goal for a foul in the lead-up.
Complete winners list of FIFA World Cup
| Year | Host Country | Winner | Runner-up |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | Czechoslovakia |
| 1938 | France | Italy | Hungary |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Brazil |
| 1954 | Switzerland | West Germany | Hungary |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | Sweden |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Czechoslovakia |
| 1966 | England | England | West Germany |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Italy |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | Netherlands |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Netherlands |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | West Germany |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | West Germany |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Argentina |
| 1994 | USA | Brazil | Italy |
| 1998 | France | France | Brazil |
| 2002 | South Korea/Japan | Brazil | Germany |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | France |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Netherlands |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Croatia |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | France |
| 2026 | USA/Canada/Mexico | Spain | Argentina |
