Spain triumphed over Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday to claim the FIFA World Cup 2026 title, with Ferran Torres netting the decisive goal and Luis de la Fuente…
1/10Champions Again | Spain has claimed the FIFA World Cup title for a second time, demonstrating a stronger performance than in 2010. Throughout the 120 minutes, Argentina posed little threat as Spain dominated play. The match included a red card, a tense deadlock, and a thrilling extra-time goal, culminating in Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina.
2/10Zero Shots | Argentina became only the third team in 900 World Cup matches since 1966 to manage zero shots during regulation, joining Costa Rica against Brazil in 1990 and Spain in 2022. Spain held the majority of possession, carefully approaching their 20th shot before it found the back of the net. Argentina’s sole shot came in the 117th minute when Messi’s attempt hit Spain’s Mikel Merino in the face.
3/10Red Card Returns | Enzo Fernández was shown a red card for a second yellow just before half-time after fouling Spain defender Pau Cubarsí. He became the first player to receive a red card in a World Cup final since Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga did in 2010 against Spain. This was the sixth red card in World Cup final history.
4/10Extra-Time Habit | This marked Argentina’s third appearance in extra time in the 2026 World Cup, making them the first team to reach extra time three times in a single tournament. Throughout the event, Argentina evaded penalty shootouts. This game added to the nation’s record of 14 extra-time matches in World Cup history, where they had progressed in 11 of the previous 13.
5/10Martínez’s Wall | Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez recorded 11 saves against Spain, the highest for any goalkeeper in a World Cup final since 1966. His most significant challenge arose late in regulation when Lamine Yamal’s 20-yard free kick was on target. Martínez also played a crucial role in Argentina’s 2022 title victory and has been a starter since 2021.
6/10Late Breakthrough | Spain has participated in nine World Cup matches that went to extra time but scored only twice in this instance: Andrés Iniesta in the 2010 final and Ferran Torres this past Sunday. Torres became the fifth substitute to net a goal in a World Cup final, the first since Germany’s Mario Götze’s extra-time winner in 2014.
7/10Records Broken | Spain conceded just a single goal throughout the entire 2026 tournament, marking the fewest allowed by a World Cup-winning team. Goalkeeper Unai Simón also established a new tournament record with seven clean sheets. Additionally, 19-year-olds Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí became the fourth and fifth teenagers to compete in a World Cup final, joining the ranks of Pelé, Giuseppe Bergomi, and Kylian Mbappé.
8/10Double Crown | Luis de la Fuente, aged 65 years and 28 days, made history as the oldest coach to win a World Cup, breaking countryman Vicente del Bosque’s record of 59 years and 220 days established in 2010. Spain also became the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously, having won the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
9/10Messi’s Milestone | At 39 years and 25 days, Lionel Messi became the oldest outfield player to play in a World Cup final, surpassing Sweden’s Gunnar Gren, who was 37 years and 241 days old in 1958. Substitute Nicolás Otamendi, at 38 years and 157 days, was the second-oldest. Messi also became the second player to compete in three World Cup finals, following Brazil’s Cafu.
10/10Unbeaten Streak | Spain extended its unbeaten streak to 38 matches (29 wins, nine draws), the longest in men’s international football history, surpassing Italy’s previous record of 37 games from 2018 to 2021. This stretch began after a loss to Colombia in March 2024; a draw was counted from a penalty shootout defeat to Portugal in the Nations League final. Spain also had a previous unbeaten record of 35 matches from 2007 to 2009, winning Euro 2008 during that period.
