Spain Beats Argentina 1-0 for World Cup Title on Torres Extra-Time Goal

Ferran Torres scored in extra time to give Spain a 1-0 win over Argentina in the World Cup final, denying Lionel Messi a second consecutive title in what he said would be his last tournament. The goal capped a dominant Spanish performance that controlled possession and limited Argentina to few clear chances.

The victory gives Spain its second men's World Cup title and places the federation in a historic position: holding both the men's and women's trophies simultaneously. Spain's unbeaten run now stands at 38 matches, a European record.

The final drew a global audience in the billions and was attended by a roster of celebrities, though the on-field story belonged to Spain's relentless pressure and Torres' late strike. Argentina pushed for an equalizer in the dying minutes but could not break through a Spanish defense that has conceded just twice in the tournament.