Spaniard Ferran Torres (7) accepts the trophy after the World Cup final. (AP photo)
Spanish World Cup final hero Ferran Torres admitted he is still struggling to believe what he has achieved after scoring the extra-time winner that sealed a historic 1-0 win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final.The Barcelona striker, brought on by coach Luis de la Fuente from the bench, etched his name in Spanish football folklore with a decisive goal in the 106th minute at MetLife Stadium. Moments after the final whistle, an emotional Torres admitted that he had not yet comprehended the scale of the event.
“Honestly, I can’t believe it. I’m just trying to enjoy it, but I don’t know what’s going on,” Torres said in an interview with the host broadcaster, in a video shared by DAZN Football on Channel X.
“I didn’t think much. I saw the ball coming towards me and I hit it with the force of all the Spanish people.”The goal crowned Spain world champions for only the second time after their first win in 2010 and ended Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first country since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend a FIFA World Cup.
“The target was for 47 million people.”
Torres later dedicated the match-winning goal to the people of Spain, insisting that the victory belonged to the entire country and not just the team.“The goal was for 47 million people, and it was not my goal alone, or among the 26 players here,” Torres said, according to what FIFA reported.
“I think today’s result was written in the stars. The game was up for grabs for us to win. We were far away from our people, but we did our best to make them feel as close as possible.”Spain controlled the game from the first whistle, dominating the ball, creating the vast majority of chances, and limiting Argentina to almost nothing in attack. However, it took extra time for La Roja to finally break through.Just 37 seconds into the second extra period, Pedro Porro sent in a deep cross that Neco Williams headed home with a stunning header across goal. Torres timed his run perfectly before firing a shot with his left foot into the roof of the goal behind Emiliano Martinez, who saved 12 kicks that kept Argentina alive for more than 100 minutes.
Facing Messi on the biggest stage
Torres also acknowledged the unique pressure facing Lionel Messi in what is expected to be the Argentina captain’s final World Cup appearance.“All finals are difficult,” Torres admitted. “When Messi is in the opposing team, tension always creeps in.” “But at the end of the day, we’ve always stuck to our guns, playing our own brand of football, and I think we showed that again today.”Spain’s disciplined display completed one of the most dominant World Cup campaigns in recent memory. Luis de la Fuente’s side finished the tournament unbeaten, conceding just one goal in eight matches, while adding a FIFA World Cup title to their Euro 2024 crown.