Messi and Mbappé tie for the top scorer of the 2026 World Cup

Argentina and Spain without goals in regular time

The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. The match is decided in extra time, with Argentina playing with 10 men after the expulsion of Enzo Fernández for a double warning.

It is the second consecutive final that goes to extra time. In Qatar 2022, Argentina beat France on penalties.

Argentina did not register any shots on goal in all of regulation time. Spain accumulated 10 shots, highlighting a free kick by Lamine Yamal that was deflected by Emiliano Martínez. The Argentine goalkeeper made nine saves on a sunny afternoon with 27°C.

Argentina showed physical wear and tear. Defender Lisandro Martínez was replaced by Nicolás Otamendi near the end of the first half.

Messi’s team is seeking its fourth title and retaining the championship, something that a team has not achieved since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Spain is seeking its second crown and could be the first nation to simultaneously hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles.

It is the 104th match of the largest tournament in history, with 48 teams and headquarters in the United States, Mexico and Canada. 307 goals have been scored before this final.

Before the game there was a show: Post Malone led the closing ceremony, and halftime included Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, among others. President Donald Trump attended the stadium.

The referee is the Slovenian Slavko Vincic.

The duel for the world title between Argentina and Spain remains goalless at the end of the first extra time. The final, played in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is a tactical duel where Spain dominates possession but cannot beat Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

Lionel Messi looks for a goal to equal Kylian Mbappé as the all-time top scorer in World Cups. Argentina aspires to its fourth title, while Spain seeks its second title after 2010. A curious detail: in 2007, Messi, in a UNICEF campaign, bathed a child who turned out to be Lamine Yamal, today a member of the Spanish team.

Spain controlled the game, but ran into key saves from Martínez. In addition, they have played with numerical superiority since the second half, when Enzo Fernández received a red card for a foul on Pau Cubarsí. Argentina, which won the 2022 World Cup on penalties, will now have to resist with ten players.

In the second extra time, Spain managed to open the scoring: Ferran Torres defined a cross from Nico Williams in the 106th minute. However, minutes later a goal by Williams was disallowed due to a prior foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolás Otamendi.

If Argentina wins, Lionel Scaloni would be the second coach to win two consecutive World Cups (after Vittorio Pozzo). If Spain wins, Luis de la Fuente would become the oldest coach to win the tournament, at 65 years old.

Spain maintains an unbeaten streak of 37 games. Argentina has seven consecutive victories in World Cups. The halftime show included Madonna, Shakira, BTS and an orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

Victory in extra time

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time and won its second world title. The final, played in a packed stadium, had a very even development during the regulation 90 minutes.

Neither team managed to open the scoring in regulation time. The tension remained high, with chances for both sides but without success.

It was in extra time when the decisive goal came. A goal at a key moment gave the trophy to the Spanish, unleashing celebration in the stands and throughout the country.

A milestone for Spanish football

This victory places Spain in a prominent place in international football. It is only their second World Cup, an achievement that reflects the collective work and hierarchy of the team.

The Spanish fans celebrated the result as a show of unity and effort. The team showed character to win a close match against a high-level rival like Argentina.

The road to the title was not easy. Spain showed defensive solidity and patience to find just the right space in extra time. The victory also has symbolic weight: it consolidates a generation of footballers who leaves their mark on the history of sport.