Spain silences Messi, Argentina to win FIFA World Cup crown

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Super-sub Ferran Torres delivers the winner in extra time as Spain captures its second FIFA World Cup crown and denies Lionel Messi and Argentina a title repeat

NEW JERSEY, USA – Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to lift Spain to its second FIFA World Cup title with a 1-0 win in extra time over gutsy, 10-man Argentina in the final on Sunday, July 19 (Monday, July 20, Manila time).

Torres’ deserved winner came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time to lift the Spaniards to their first world championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.

It came on La Roja’s 20th shot on the contest against defending champion Argentina, which failed to manage any to that point and struggled to wrest possession away from its superior Iberian opponents.

That was true at even strength and became more difficult when the Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge of Pau Cubarsi left referee Slavko Vincic no choice but to produce a second caution just before the end of normal time.

Spain remains the only nation ever to win a European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments, having now done so a second time. It is also the first World Cup champion ever to concede only once across an entire tournament.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to earn a title for the first time in three major tournaments, having also captured the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World Cup triumph.

The 39-year-old, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, but had little time on the ball until Spain finally took the lead and never seriously looked like lifting his side to another great moment as he has so many times in the last two World Cup cycles.

Emi Martinez made 11 saves for the Albiceleste, who fell short in their bid to be the first consecutive World Cup champions since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 titles.

What had felt so difficult for the first 105 minutes suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second period of extra time.

Pedro Porro curled in an outswinging cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won the header and nodded it back into space, and Torres hammered a half-volley at last past the flailing Martinez. It was his only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score during a tournament in which his side never trailed. – Rappler.com