Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, hailed his players for fulfilling what he described as “their destiny” by winning a second World Cup final against 10-man Argentina.
The reigning champions were second best throughout but it took until the second period of extra time for Spain to find the breakthrough from the substitute, Ferran Torres. Nico Williams saw his goal disallowed in the first half of extra time, while Enzo Fernández became the sixth player – and third from Argentina – to be sent off in a World Cup final after the Chelsea midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the 93rd minute.
Argentina had chances to equalise after Torres put Spain ahead but having come to their rescue so many times at this tournament Lionel Messi could not inspire them to become the first team to retain their title since Brazil in 1962. His failure to add to his tally of eight goals in what is expected to be the 39-year-old’s last World Cup means that Kylian Mbappé won a second Golden Boot of his career having finished with 10 goals.
But it was Spain’s miserly defence that proved decisive in the end, with De la Fuente’s side only conceding one goal in their eight matches as Unai Simón won the best goalkeeper award and teenage defender Pau Cubarsí was named as young player of the tournament. The Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, was awarded the Golden Ball.
“It was written, and we deserve it,” said a delighted De la Fuente, who has led Spain to European titles at under-19, under-21 and senior level before this triumph. “This team and this wonderful fanbase deserve everything. We had a date with destiny and we wanted to make it count.
“The players have asked me what we have left to win. Together we’ve figured out that it’s the next match in September [against England in the Nations League] because this team is tireless.”
But while Álex Baena and Marc Cucurella are set to follow through on their promise to have tattoos to celebrate Spain’s triumph, the 65-year-old De la Fuente, who became the oldest manager to win the World Cup, insisted he had no such plans. “I’m too old for tattoos,” he said.
Torres, who emulated Andrés Iniesta’s winner in extra time of the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa against the Netherlands when Spain won their first title under Vicente del Bosque, found it hard to come to terms with what he had just done.
“This isn’t just my goal,” the Barcelona forward said. “It’s for 47 million people. I want to grab the cup and squeeze it. In the end, when you’ve got Messi on the opposing team, you do get a bit nervous, but we always try to play our own game.”
There were ugly scenes after the full-time whistle when Leandro Paredes pushed Eric García and then appeared to aim punches at Gavi while he was on the floor, with the Slovenian referee showing him a red card. Argentina’s players then kept their backs turned when Rodri was presented with the trophy by US president Donald Trump.
The Argentina manager, Lionel Scaloni, who was in charge when they beat France in the 2022 final, broke down in tears in his post-match press conference and would not confirm if he will continue after his contract expires at the end of this year.
“It hurts my soul. I’m sorry,” he said. “I have to be honest and say that I have to take time and think about the future, because I’m not sure this kind of group can be assembled again.”
Asked whether Messi is planning on retiring soon, he added: “At 39 years old, it’s an incredible thing. He is going to play as long as he wants. He’s the best player to ever set foot on a field. What he did in this World Cup is incredible.”
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