Spain Beats Argentina in Extra Time to Win 2026 World Cup, Sweeps Top Awards

(WS News) – Spain lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, denying Lionel Messi a second consecutive title and sweeping the tournament’s major individual honors in the process.

Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute after Spain had dominated large stretches of the match in front of 80,000 fans without being able to find the breakthrough in regulation time. “It was a goal scored by 47 million people, it wasn’t even mine or from the 26 players,” Torres said afterward, describing the win as destined to happen.

Spain’s Rodri was named Player of the Tournament, edging out Messi, who settled for the Silver Ball, while Argentina forward Julián Álvarez’s teammate on the losing side saw Kylian Mbappé take the Bronze Ball. Spain teenager Pau Cubarsí won Young Player of the Tournament, and goalkeeper Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove after conceding just once in seven matches, finishing with nine career World Cup clean sheets, one shy of the all-time record.

Mbappé also retained the Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the first player to win it in two separate World Cups after his double in France’s 6-4 third-place win over England the day before the final. It made him only the fourth player in tournament history to reach double figures in goals in a single edition, following France’s Just Fontaine in 1958, West Germany’s Gerd Müller in 1970 and Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis in 1954. Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and was unable to add to his personal trophy collection after going scoreless in the final.