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World Cup: Torres breaks Argentine resistance in extra time

In New Jersey, Spain became World Champions over ten-man Argentina, edging a chippy affair 1-0 against the holders.
E. DEVIN
Published on 07/19/2026 at 22:00
2-minute read
Spain's Ferrán Torres celebrates his 106th-minute winner.

In New Jersey, Spain became World Champions over ten-man Argentina, edging a chippy affair 1-0 against the holders. Get the latest from the Ligue 1 McDonald's team.

Spain again show their solidity

In a World Cup Final played in a lively atmosphere just outside New York City, Spain eventually prevailed despite Emiliano Martínez making ten saves for the Albiceleste. Nicolás Tagliafico of Olympique Lyonnais started and played the entire match for Argentina, while Facundo Medina of Olympique de Marseille featured off the bench. Fabián Ruiz of Paris Saint-Germain played the majority of the match for Spain, who were in control from start to finish, with Argentina not even having a shot until late in the second half.

The first opportunity of the match would fall to Lamine Yamal, a player who has grown into the tournament La Rioja, but his attempt across goal on five minutes was kept out by Martínez. From there, though, the first half mostly simmered rather than boiled, with a physical battle raging in midfield with no likely victor, Marc Cucurella coming closest to netting on 43'

A moment of madness for Fernández

Spain continued to have the better of play, and Martínez needed to be sharp to react to a downward header by Torres (67').  Spain would have several more chances from range, but none really tested the Aston Villa man. 

The real turning point of the match came deep in second-half stoppage time, though, as Enzo Fernández, who had been booked for dissent just minutes earlier, received a second yellow card for upending Pau Cubarsi. Martínez would keep out a Yamal free kick in what was virtually the last moment of regular time, but Argentina still had to play half an hour with ten men.

Becoming increasingly leggy, they were finally beaten by Torres, who had come on midway through the second half. Martínez had made a miraculous save to keep out Nico Williams in the fourth minute of the first half of extra time, but there was no stopping Torres on 106 minutes. With Spain having failed to clear a free kick, Torres pounced on a loose ball in the area, and scarcely needed further invitation to seal Spain's second major title in as many attempts.

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