They came to New Jersey as record makers. They left as national champions.Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in a thrilling World Cup clash at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday night, with Ferran Torres’ second-half strike separating the two sides and giving Spain their second World Cup title, 16 years after South Africa’s first in 2010.But the trophy wasn’t the only history made on Sunday night. With the final victory, Spain extended their unbeaten run to 38 consecutive matches in all competitions, surpassing Italy’s record of 37 matches and becoming the team with the longest unbeaten run in European and South American football history. No team on any continent has gone that long without defeat.Torres, who endured a tough competition with his high standards before reaching the final, scored the most important goal of his career. After picking up a heavy pass from Pedri on the edge of Argentina’s penalty area in the 67th minute, the Manchester City player took one-on-one time to level and slotted past Emiliano MartÃnez and slotted home. MetLife Stadium, filled with red and yellow, erupted.Argentina pushed. Lionel Messi, playing the last game of his international career, went forward again and again, creating moments and looking for the ball as he always does. But Spain’s defence, six clean sheets in their previous six games, the best defensive record in World Cup history, was nowhere near ending the biggest night of all. Unai Simón made two crucial saves in the last ten minutes to keep a clean sheet and send the trophy to Spain.For Messi, it’s a painful end to an incredibly beautiful career. He finishes the 2026 World Cup with eight goals and four assists, one of the highest scores in a World Cup game. But Argentina’s second consecutive title was not to be.For Spain, unbeaten in 38 games, European champions in 2024 and now world champions in 2026, the record books are all theirs.Italy’s history lasted five years. Spain broke through on the biggest stage of all with the World Cup trophy in their hands.
