# Spain beat Argentina in dominant World Cup final win

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/spain-wins-the-2026-world-cup-1-0-punishing-argentina-with-20-shots-on-goal/
- Published: 2026-07-20T08:32:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-20T14:48:10+00:00
- Original publisher: Deadline
- Original article: https://deadline.com/2026/07/spain-wins-2026-world-cup-argentina-1236998074/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Europe, Football, Sport, UK, World

## Key points

- Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win the 2026 World Cup
- Ferran Torres scored the only goal in extra time, minute 105
- Spain had 20 shots to Argentina's none until the 116th minute
- Messi's World Cup career likely ends after this final

## Summary

Spain have been confirmed as 2026 World Cup champions after beating holders Argentina 1-0 in a final marked by near-total Spanish control rather than dramatic end-to-end action. Substitute Ferran Torres struck the decisive goal in the 105th minute of extra time, turning in a deflected shot for his first strike of the tournament, as Spain secured a first World Cup title since 2010 and denied Argentina back-to-back championships. The result also likely brought the international career of 39-year-old Argentina great Lionel Messi to a close, after he failed to make a telling impact on the game.

Spain outshot Argentina 20-0 across normal and extra time, with Argentina failing to register a shot on goal until the 116th minute, and held 62 per cent of first-half possession. Argentina's task was made harder when midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second yellow card in the 92nd minute, leaving his side to play out extra time with ten men, while a Spanish goal from Nico Williams was ruled out shortly before the 100th minute for a foul in the build-up. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, playing through a broken finger, made a record ten saves for a World Cup final to keep Argentina in contention until Torres finally broke the deadlock.

## Coverage

- [Deadline: Spain beat Argentina in dominant World Cup final win](https://deadline.com/2026/07/spain-wins-2026-world-cup-argentina-1236998074/)
- [The Guardian: The 2026 World Cup final: Spain 1-0 Argentina – in pictures](https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2026/jul/19/world-cup-2026-final-spain-v-argentina-in-pictures)

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