Spain secures World Cup title, Messi fails to create chance in final

By Ananya Iyer — 20 July 2026 — 3 min read

Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup title with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina, a match where Lionel Messi, for the first time in his World Cup career, did not create a single chance for a teammate. The final, held at MetLife Stadium, saw Spain‘s disciplined defensive strategy effectively neutralise Argentina‘s primary attacking threat.

Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, converting a header from Nico Williams. This victory marks Spain‘s first World Cup triumph since 2010 and extends their unbeaten international streak to a European-record 38 matches.

Spain’s Dominant Performance

Spain‘s strategic approach focused on containing Messi, a plan that proved highly effective. Messi, making his 34th World Cup appearance across six tournaments, had only 15 touches in the first half and concluded the match with 54 touches, rarely receiving possession in dangerous areas. His usual passing combinations did not materialise, preventing him from posing a significant threat to Spain‘s defence.

Spain‘s coach, Luis de la Fuente, confirmed after the match that stopping Messi was a key objective. The team dominated possession and offensive statistics, finishing with a 20-2 advantage in shots and completing 845 passes compared to Argentina‘s 433.

The match remained goalless for an extended period, with Spain‘s constant pressure making a goal seem inevitable. Argentina struggled to advance the ball, failing to register a shot on target throughout the entire game. This marked only the third instance in 900 World Cup games, for which Opta provides statistics, that a team failed to shoot.

Unai Simón, Spain‘s goalkeeper, noted the effectiveness of his team’s defence, stating his gloves had little work to do. Defender Aymeric Laporte highlighted that Spain‘s success was not solely reliant on the backline, emphasizing the collective effort.

Messi’s Disappointing End

For Messi, the defeat was a disappointing conclusion to what had been an otherwise strong tournament. The Argentina captain had guided his nation to a second consecutive World Cup final, contributing eight goals and four assists. He also became the first player to start three FIFA World Cup finals.

Despite his individual achievements, including finishing the tournament with 125 international goals and a record 34 World Cup appearances, Messi‘s bid to secure a second World Cup title ended with the loss. After the final whistle, he was consoled by several Spain players and walked through a guard of honour as Argentina collected their runners-up medals.

The match marked an unwanted first for Messi, as he had never previously started a FIFA World Cup match without creating at least one chance for a teammate in his World Cup career. This streak concluded in the final, as Spain successfully denied him the necessary space and time.

Spain’s Celebrations and Coach’s Journey

Following their victory, Spain‘s players celebrated their achievement. Rodrigo Hernández, who had experienced Spain‘s first World Cup win in 2010 as a 14-year-old, was a key figure in this triumph. He collected the trophy for the tournament’s best player, while Pau Cubarsí received the young player award and Unai Simón the Golden Glove.

Each Spain player received a replica World Cup trophy in a Louis Vuitton trunk, along with a Lego version. The celebrations were brief as the team had a scheduled flight back to Spain. Players like Nico Williams shared their medals with family, and Lamine Yamal embraced Lionel Messi after the match.

The victory was also a significant moment for coach Luis de la Fuente, who began his coaching career in the third tier and later joined the Spanish federation’s youth system. He won the European Championship with the under-19s and under-21s, then with the senior side, and now the World Cup. He expressed his team’s insatiable desire for success, already looking forward to their next game in September.

Source: theguardian.com