Spaniard Ferran Torres (7) celebrates the end of the World Cup final. (AP photo)
Spain’s long wait for a breakthrough at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has finally ended with an unlikely hero. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time to give Spain a dramatic 1-0 win over defending champions Argentina, securing their second World Cup title and ending Lionel Messi’s dream of retaining the title.Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute, just 37 seconds after the start of the second extra period, to end the dominant Spanish display, which remained scoreless throughout 90 minutes despite constant pressure.
Torres delivers the ball when Spain needs him most
The winning goal came from a flowing Spanish move. Pedro Porro crossed deep into the box, Neco Williams cleverly headed the ball back across goal, and Torres timed his run perfectly before firing a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.The goal finally broke Argentina’s stubborn resistance after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a series of brilliant saves to keep his team in the game.Spain dominated the entire match, finishing with 15 shots in regulation compared to Argentina’s none, while also conceding nine corner kicks to Argentina’s one. Lionel Scaloni’s side managed to survive until extra time despite spending long periods without the ball.
Argentina’s task became more difficult after Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time of the second half for receiving a second yellow card after a reckless intervention on Pau Cobarci. Reduced to 10 men, the defending champions were unable to recover once Torres broke through.The win also saw Spain make history by becoming the first country to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.
Who is Ferran Torres?
Ferran Torres Garcia is a Spanish international striker who plays for Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Comfortable as a winger and central striker, Torres has built a reputation for intelligent movement, precise finishing and providing goals in crucial moments.The 26-year-old began his professional career with Valencia, where he made his debut in 2017 before moving to Manchester City in 2020.
During his time in England, he won the Premier League and League Cup under Pep Guardiola before joining Barcelona in January 2022.Although Torres initially faced criticism and inconsistency after arriving at Camp Nou, he turned his fortunes around over the following seasons. He played a vital role in Barcelona’s domestic treble-winning campaign in 2024-25 and followed it up with his most prolific season, scoring 21 goals to help the Catalan giants regain the La Liga title.On the international scene, Torres progressed through Spain’s youth ranks before making his debut in 2020. La Roja represented at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2024, where Spain lifted the European Championship.Now, Torres has etched his name into Spanish football folklore. His extra-time win against Argentina not only secured Spain’s second World Cup title, but also ensured that he will forever be remembered as the man who denied Lionel Messi and Argentina a historic back-to-back World Cup win.