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The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final delivered a dramatic conclusion as Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time at New York New Jersey Stadium.
After 105 minutes without a goal, Ferran Torres became the hero for La Roja. The Spanish forward struck in the 106th minute after Nico Williams' header fell perfectly into his path, firing the decisive finish past Emiliano Martínez.
The victory gave Spain their second FIFA World Cup title and ended Argentina's hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the trophy.
The scoreline may have been narrow, but the statistics tell a different story. Spain controlled the final from the opening whistle and finished the 120 minutes with 20 attempts compared with just two for Argentina.
Argentina's defence, led by an outstanding Emiliano Martínez, kept the champions alive for almost the entire match. However, Spain's relentless pressure eventually produced the breakthrough they needed.
After 39 days of football, La Roja stood on top of the world once again.
Was Spain's victory fully deserved? Based on the final itself, the answer is difficult to argue against.
Luis de la Fuente's side dominated possession, created the majority of the chances and spent much of the match pushing Argentina deeper and deeper into their own half.
Spain's defensive record was equally remarkable. La Roja conceded just one goal throughout the entire tournament, while goalkeeper Unai Simón finished the competition with a record seven clean sheets.
Their journey to the trophy also included victories over Portugal, Belgium and France before overcoming Argentina in the final. Spain's seven consecutive victories were the second-most ever achieved by a World Cup winner, behind Brazil's 11-match winning streak across the 2002 and 2006 editions.
Argentina, meanwhile, had shown incredible resilience throughout the tournament. They recovered from difficult situations and reached their second consecutive World Cup Final.
But on the biggest night, Spain were simply the better team.
La Roja controlled the game, neutralised Argentina's attack and eventually found the winning goal. If the World Cup is ultimately about performing when it matters most, Spain made a very strong case that they were worthy champions.
Lionel Messi may have lost the World Cup Final, but his individual tournament was nothing short of extraordinary.
At 39 years old, the Argentine captain became the oldest outfield player to appear in a FIFA World Cup Final and the second player in history to feature in three World Cup finals, following Brazil legend Cafu.
Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, leading Argentina's charge all the way to the final and once again demonstrating his ability to perform on football's biggest stage.
However, the adidas Golden Ball ultimately went to Spain's Rodri.
The Spanish midfielder was arguably the heartbeat of the champions. In the final alone, Rodri completed 101 of 105 passes, won 80 per cent of his duels and created two chances. Across the tournament, his defensive intelligence and passing ability helped Spain concede just one goal in eight matches.
So, did Messi deserve the Golden Ball?
There is certainly a strong argument that he did. Eight goals and four assists at the age of 39, combined with leading his country to another World Cup Final, is an incredible achievement.
But Rodri's award also makes sense.
The Golden Ball is not simply a prize for the player with the most goals or assists. Rodri was the central figure in a Spain team that dominated the tournament from midfield and ultimately lifted the trophy.
Perhaps the fairest conclusion is that Messi was the tournament's most spectacular individual performer, while Rodri was the most influential player in the team that became world champions.
The debate over the greatest football player of all time will never truly end, but Lionel Messi's 2026 World Cup campaign has added another extraordinary chapter to his legacy.
He has now appeared in three World Cup Finals, won the tournament in 2022 and finished as a runner-up in 2026. He has also won the adidas Golden Ball at two different World Cups, in 2014 and 2022, while earning the Silver Ball this time around.
Even in defeat against Spain, Messi leaves the tournament with eight goals, four assists and another performance that demonstrated his remarkable longevity.
Argentina may have failed to defend their crown, but their legendary captain once again took them to the very last game of the competition.
Whether Messi is the greatest of all time is ultimately a matter of opinion.
But after winning the World Cup, collecting countless individual awards and producing one of the longest periods of elite football the sport has ever witnessed, the argument for Messi as the GOAT remains stronger than ever.
As for Spain, they can celebrate a fully deserved second World Cup triumph.
And for Argentina and Messi, there is only one question left:
Was this truly the end of the greatest World Cup story of them all?