Spain win a at-times scrappy but hugely thrilling final against Messi’s Argentina thanks to a goal from substitute Ferran Torres in the 106th minute and are world champions!
From the very start, the game plan of both teams for this 22nd World Cup final was clear: while Spain wanted to build on their impressive display in the semi-final against France, Argentina set out to stop exactly that.
Right from kick-off, the South Americans repeatedly resorted to minor or tactical fouls to disrupt Spain’s rhythm.
After five minutes, things got dangerous in the Argentine penalty area for the first time: Lamine Yamal got a shot away inside the box after a rather accidental one-two with Dani Olmo. His attempted curler toward the far corner was deflected by defender Martínez in such a way that Argentina’s goalkeeper was able to gather the ball safely.
At the other end immediately after, Unai Simón prevented a dangerous counterattack by getting to the ball just ahead of Messi and defusing the situation.
Spain then tried to unlock things with creativity, but Messi’s side knew exactly how to shut that down. Just before the break, Oyarzabal finished too weakly after a lovely move (39’). Immediately afterwards, defender Martínez had to be substituted through injury before the half-time whistle.
After the much-talked-about, star-studded half-time show, the flow of the game did not exactly improve at the start of the second half. A mass confrontation (52’), a Yamal free-kick into the wall (61’), and a few tentative Spanish approaches on goal were initially the best it had to offer.
In the 67th minute, substitute Torres had a headed chance, but it landed in Martínez’s arms – and shortly after, a tame shot from Pedri produced the same result (77’).
Just a few minutes later, Torres also squandered his second big chance when his first-time effort from a cross flashed just wide of the right post (87’).
In the closing minutes of normal time, Argentina barely had any possession left and still had not managed a single shot on goal. Messi was almost completely ineffective in this phase.
Argentina almost snatched a cheeky late winner after a quickly taken free-kick, but Simeone’s low delivery ended up with Simón (90+2). Instead, Enzo Fernández was rather deservedly sent off for a second booking after clearly arriving late on Cubarsí.
