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A milestone in football history

The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina set a precedent: for the first time, halftime included a great spectacle, similar to that of the Super Bowl. The setting was the New Jersey/New York stadium.

Madonna opened the presentation by leaving the tunnel in a vehicle, accompanied by two Brazilian figures: Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. Both world champions wore personalized uniforms that evoked the Brazilian flag. Ronaldinho wore a yellow outfit with green and blue details; Ronaldo wore a blue one with green and yellow touches.

The show, unprecedented in a World Cup final, sought to replicate the entertainment format popularized by the NFL in its grand finale. The combination of music and soccer stars generated a unique moment for fans.

The presence of Madonna, pop icon, along with two football legends, raised the expectations of the event. The World Cup organization surprised with this novel bet, which could set a trend in future editions.

A final of contrasts

The New Jersey-New York Stadium witnessed a lopsided final. Spain dominated from start to finish: 20 shots against only two from Argentina. The scoreboard reflected a tactical superiority that the Albiceleste was never able to counter.

The hero was Ferran Torres. In the 104th minute, Nico Williams – introduced in the 74th – sent a tense cross and the forward appeared from behind to beat Emiliano Martínez who had kept his team alive. It was the only goal of the game.

Argentina, which arrived as current champions, paid dearly for injuries and late changes. The expulsion of Enzo Fernández for a double yellow buried any hope. Messi and company repeated the bitterness of Brazil 2014: losing a final in extra time.

“Spaniards, we are world champions,” shouted Ferran Torres at the end of the match.

Sweep in the FIFA awards

Spain not only took the trophy. Unai Simón received the Golden Glove after conceding only one goal in the entire tournament (against Belgium in the quarterfinals). Pau Cubarsí, 19 years old, was recognized as the best young player. Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, was awarded the World Cup MVP.

Kylian Mbappé, absent from the award ceremony, won the Golden Boot with 10 goals. The Frenchman also became the all-time leading scorer in World Cups with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi, who closed with 21.

The Spanish generation – Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres – makes it clear that this title will not be the last.

A goal from Torres decides the title

Spain became champion of the 2026 World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time, in a match played on the outskirts of New York. The explosive Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute with a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez.

The Iberian team thus achieved its second star, after the one achieved in South Africa 2010. The defeat meant a bitter farewell for Lionel Messi, who at 39 years old played his last game in a World Cup, as he had announced. The ’10’ could not revalidate the title obtained in Qatar 2022.

Tension after the final whistle

The end of the meeting was marked by high spirits. Several players from both teams got into an altercation. Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, visibly frustrated by the defeat, confronted some Spanish players, including Gavi, who fell to the grass.

The situation did not escalate thanks to the intervention of members of both teams. Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni maintained serenity and managed to calm the players on both sides. The match, which was decided in extra time, left images of great tension but also the record of a second world title for Spain.