Nico Williams, Ferran Torres, and Spain’s adaptable World Cup excellence
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41'
Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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52'
Yellow card Leandro PAREDES (Argentina) is booked by
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82'
Yellow card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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90'+2'
Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
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90'+3'
Red card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked for
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105'
Yellow card Lionel SCALONI (Argentina) is booked by
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106'
Goal Ferran TORRES (Spain) scores!!
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111'
Yellow card Alexis MAC ALLISTER (Argentina) is booked
Spain squad
- Selected
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI C Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
- Selected
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
Spain won the 2026 World Cup final in extra-time against Argentina, with substitutes Nico Williams and Ferran Torres combining for the winning goal. The pair had only just come on when Williams, showing sharp awareness of space, headed on a cross to set up Torres, ending a tense and physical contest in which Argentina's disciplined defending had otherwise frustrated Spain's dominant possession play.
The decisive move came in the 106th minute, when full-back Pedro Porro delivered a lofted cross that Williams headed into the path of Torres to score. Williams, an Athletic Club winger who was central to Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, had struggled with injuries throughout the tournament and had not started a single game, his introduction against Argentina marking his longest appearance. Argentina, managed by Lionel Scaloni and reduced to ten men late on after Enzo Fernández's red card, had set up to deny space to forward Mikel Oyarzabal, pushing Spain to attempt eleven of their 20 shots from outside the box before the late breakthrough.
In short
- Spain beat Argentina in extra-time to win the World Cup.
- Substitutes Nico Williams and Ferran Torres combined for the winner.
- Williams, injury-hit all tournament, set up Torres in the 106th minute.
Explained simply
The FIFA World Cup is the world's premier international football tournament, contested every four years between the national teams ranked among the sport's best. Spain's involvement in recent World Cup finals reflects their position as one of the traditional powerhouses of international football, with a distinctive playing style based on technical skill and controlled possession.
Nico Williams is a left-sided attacker from Athletic Club known for his pace, movement and versatility in Spain's attacking system. Ferran Torres is another attacking player in Spain's modern squad, involved in both scoring and creating opportunities for his teammates.
Argentina is among world football's most established nations and has been highly competitive on the international stage in recent years under manager Lionel Scaloni. The contrast between Spain's emphasis on technique and possession and Argentina's different tactical approach represents a central dynamic in contemporary international football.